General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Georgia school to bring back paddling [View all]pnwmom
(108,977 posts)because she left the school to get breakfast?
She was a legal adult and when they said they were going to beat her she tried to withdraw from the school -- which was her right, as an adult. But they held her down and beat her to the point where she had to go to the hospital.
The Supreme Court considered the case and decided it was fine. They've decided that other egregious cases that put kids in hospitals were fine, too.
And there was no recourse for the victim or their parents; and no consequences for the abusive adults.
This is what happens when you give that kind of power to authority figures. Some WILL abuse it.
http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/school_law/2008/06/the_supreme_court_and_corporal.html
Serafin says in court papers that when principal Brett Wilkinson sought to paddle her on that day in June 2004, she asked to withdraw herself from the school instead. Her request was refused, and two school employees helped restrain Serafin while the principal began paddling her. After the first strike, Serafin freed one of her hands, which was struck by the paddle. The principal allegedly told her, "That hit didn't count," and he struck her again, according to the former student's account. Serafin called her mother and left the school after the paddling, which left her buttocks bleeding and her hand swollen, according to court papers. She was treated at a hospital emergency room.
https://www.myplainview.com/news/article/18-year-old-student-sues-over-paddling-8675429.php
Serafin says the summer school principal, who is a named defendant in the lawsuit, hit her three or four times. She said she tried to block one of the blows and the paddle "smashed her hand."
"I started screaming because I thought he had broke my hand," she said.
Serafin said she went to the hospital because she could hardly walk after school and her hand was severely swollen. Her hand was put in a cast at the emergency room.
State law allows parents to spank their minor children if the parent "reasonably believes the force is necessary to discipline the child or to safeguard or promote his welfare." But the law does not allow parents to use force on children who are 18 or older, Hargove said.