WTH? South Carolina principal uses paddle to discipline students

[rvablue]

I don't know what disturbed me more when I read this: the actual facts or the apologist tone of the writer.

Didn't some lady in White Plains just get arrested for telling her sparring children to get out of the car 3 miles from home? (FYI, I'm not defending this lady, just comparing and contrasting.)

And a Principal is allowed to beat children?


The Principal And The Paddle
One South Carolina educator used corporal punishment to turn around his struggling elementary school. Why he's so conflicted about it.

Eric Adelson
NEWSWEEK
From the magazine issue dated May 4, 2009

The wooden paddle on principal David Nixon's desk is two feet long, with a handle wrapped in duct tape that has been worn down by age and use. He found it in a dusty cabinet in his predecessor's office at John C. Calhoun Elementary in Calhoun Hills, S.C., where Nixon has been the principal since 2006. He has no idea if the old principal ever used it, but now it sits in plain view for all visitors to see, including children who have been dismissed to his office. As punishment for a "major offense," such as fighting or stealing, students are told to place both hands on the seat of a leather chair and brace for what Nixon calls "a whippin'." Before he begins, though, he sits the child down for a quiet talk about why he, or she, is in trouble. He tries to determine if a deeper issue, such as a problem at home, might warrant a meeting with a counselor. If the child shows remorse, Nixon will often send him or her back to class without a spanking. Otherwise, he makes sure he is calm, and he makes sure his elbow is still. Then he delivers "three licks" to the child's rear end. If the child is a girl, then a female administrator does it. Some of the kids cry. Some are silent. Some want a hug. And after the child is sent back to class, still stinging, Nixon sits alone in his office and thinks about what the child has done, and what he has done. "If I could burn that paddle in my stove," Nixon says, "I would. This is the worst part of my job."

*snip*

Still, the mere fact that it works hasn't made spanking kids any easier for Nixon, who's no fire-breathing traditionalist. He's 31, a brownish-haired beanpole with a soft-spoken but determined manner. Married, with an 8-month-old daughter, he taught agriculture to high-school students for six years but had no prior administrative experience. He studied animal science at Clemson, served as state president of the Future Farmers of America, and raised 50 head of beef cattle on his ranch. In 2006, a family friend called about an opening at John C. The school, he heard, was "kind of in bad shape," but he took the job anyway.

*snip*

Thirty minutes into his first day of school at John C, a father walked into Nixon's office and said, "I want to give you the authority to whip my son's butt." Nixon was surprised, but after he thought it over, he decided to give every parent the same option. The year before he arrived, students made more than 250 visits to the principal's office; order had to be restored. While suspensions take kids out of the classroom for days, paddling could be done in 15 minutes. "What are we here to do? Educate," Nixon says. "This way there's an immediate response, and the child is right back in the room learning." According to school statistics, referrals to the principal's office have dropped 80 percent since 2006. So far this school year, there's been fewer than 50. "I've had parents say 'thank you for doing this'," says fifth-grade teacher Devada Kimsey. "And look at the behavior charts now—there's nothing on them."

*snip*

Yet the majority of parents see Nixon's paddle as a deterrent, not a weapon. "I agree with the policy," says Tim Rhodes, 42, who has two children at John C. "Kids know if they do something wrong, they are punished." In Fran Brown's first-grade class last month, a brown-haired boy spat on a fellow student. Miss Brown strode to her computer, drawing a loud "oooooh!" from the class. She typed an e-mail to Nixon, who came right away. "I don't think it's right for kids to take away from the instructed time," says Brown. After a conversation in Nixon's office, the child was paddled at home. Parents are given the option of spanking their child themselves; on rare occasions, they come to the school and use their own belts.

http://www.newsweek.com/id/195119

((I wonder how many behavioral issues the high school principal is going to have to deal with after inheriting a student body that was terrorized, beaten, debased and taught to resolve issues by hitting others with heavy, hard objects when they were six, seven and eight years old??))


ed:link

[skooooo]

1. I'm staying out of this one...

Cause I'll just be flamed.

[TheMadMonk]

13. I'll jump in. Good on him.

It's done with care and not in anger. He finds out the why before he delivers a measured dose.

Suspension simply removes a disruptive influence from the school for a few days and then it's back. Futher unless a parent gives their kid whatfor, its punitive value is not felt for some time to come when the effect of the lost schooling shows up in test scores or poorly completed assignments, by which time there is no connection with the original infraction.

One thing that can not be denied is that it's working.

Hundreds of millions of years of evololution have honed the proccess of pain connected with undesirable/dangerous behaviour causing aversion to that behaviour.

[MADem]

22. I'm as conflicted as the schoolmaster. I suppose if you're going to

have someone paddle your kid, it's better to have someone do it who doesn't like doing it. I have a feeling this guy does more talking than paddling, too. The fear of the paddle is probably worse than the whack they get.

The minute you have someone waving the paddle around like he's king of the world, though, you've got trouble.

[skooooo]

29. ty. nt

[ColesCountyDem]

27. Me, too. n/t

[slackmaster]

2. Sounds like the elementary school I attended in Alamogordo, NM back in 1968-69

Kids who acted up were taken to "the Book Room" for punishment.

[get the red out]

11. In Kentucky during the 70s

Any teacher of principal could whip anyone in my elementary school, and almost no one questioned that policy. Some teachers had thick wooden paddles with holes in them to reduce air resistance and cause more pain. My Mother adamantly disagreed with beating children, and I made sure I never got a spanking because my Mom always said she would go down to the school and raise hell if I or my sister ever did get "paddled" because she believed that the school had no right to beat kids. The threat of that embarrassment (by God she wasn't joking!) kept me in line more than the threat of physical violence by the school.

But this was certainly accepted by most people in my area during the 70s. Though the kids that seemed to get "spanked" most looking back appear, in my now middle-aged mind, to have had other issues that were in dire need of being addressed, like problems at home or mental health issues. I don't know how "a whipping" did much for those kids.

I can't believe that a child would simply tell the principal who was about to administer the punishment that he was experiencing psychological problems due to his Dad's unemployment or his Mom's drinking and that was why he created whatever disruption got him into this position. Just can't see that out of a 10 year old so what the prinicpal in this case said doesn't really ring true.

[skooooo]

30. bet it helped others wanting to learn..

because there weren't constant disruptions that weren't dealt with in any effective way whatsoever.

that's worth something, imo.

[HereSince1628]

3. Map of the situation back in 2001 notice anything that has you seeing red?.

Red states in this map allowed corporal punishment in schools
Blue states out-lawed it

[rvablue]

7. Very, very interesting...and very sad. Explains a lot, I guess. n/t

[Gator_Matt]

8. I went to schools with this in the 1990s

Thanks for the map. I live in the southeast and grew up with this being the norm until high school in the 1990s. Never had to experience it myself, and I think the issue is probably overblown. They didn't do this on a whim; it only happened for kids who were way out of line. That being said, the parents should be consulted first.

[surrealAmerican]

18. The problem is, the parents of the more disruptive kids ...

... are likely to be either abusive or neglectful. They are not the type of parents to stop their kids from being beaten at school. Thus we (as a society) raise a bunch of kids who figure that physical violence is an appropriate response to solving problems.

[Kalyke]

43. I notice something the map doesn't: corporal punishment is

allowed, but NOT required.

Parents sign off on it at the beginning of every school year in Tennessee. In other words, if you don't want your child spanked, you check "no" and that's that.

Therefore, and again, throwing up statistical maps of the South and charting it as evil has once again fallen astray when facts come into play.

[depakid]

47. It's always interesting to match these maps up with social capital

More connections here: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x5513838

[Ezlivin]

4. You are going to hear from a lot of people to whom this was a normal part of school life

When I went to elementary and junior high school, paddles were a "normal" part of the school environment. Each of us knew what awaited us in the dean's office if we misbehaved.

I never got paddled so I can't share any stories of what it was like. But I heard plenty from fellow classmates and I maintained a healthy respect for the power of the paddle in the dean's hands.

Like many others on DU that simply was the way things were "back then."

[cali]

14. I'm surprised by the number of posters for whom this was the norm

it wasn't where I grew up in the 60's. It was pretty much unthinkable, in fact.

[Celeborn Skywalker]

23. It was allowed in the early 90's

when I was in school in New Mexico. I don't think it's as common here now, but it is still used in some rural districts.

[Ezlivin]

41. It was normal in the sixties and seventies in Biloxi and Tampa

We were Air Force brats and got to sample new schools occasionally. But in both cities it was normal to be sent to the principal's office for a spanking.

I never gave it much thought until I met and married my wife; when she heard she acted like I had the most brutal childhood imaginable! I knocked the piss out of her for that...

Just kidding. :)

[Turbineguy]

5. When I was in elementary school

the third grade teacher did the whipping. An unruly 4th or 5th grader would be sent down and in front of the third grade class, get whipped and humiliated. Some of the kids were assholes and bullies, so it did not seem so bad they would get their comeuppance. Still, there was a question of fairness to the victim and degradation of those who were forced to watch.

Somewhere along the line somebody determined that this teacher was enjoying it too much and he was replaced by an extremely kind young woman who was an excellent teacher who managed to maintain order without beatings.

With the demise of the sadistic teacher, corporal punishment ended.

No matter how some may justify it, it's still an adult beating children.

[rvablue]

6. Interesting firsthand experience, turbineguy. I couldn't believe my eyes

when I read this.

The "I have no choice" attitude of the principal in this story is sickening.

[Gator_Matt]

10. Strange that this was done in front of other students

That's perverse. I only ever heard of this being done in the principals office.

[Echo In Light]

9. If anyone raised a hand, much less a weapon, to my daughter, they'd be hospitalized, period

[cali]

15. yeah, solve violence with violence. that's the answer.

[Echo In Light]

17. In certain instances, absolutely

[Stuckinthebush]

21. Yep.

If an adult abused my child, I'd be hard pressed not to "abuse" that adult.

I'm with you on that one.

[Celeborn Skywalker]

25. I think schools, by law, have to allow parents to opt out of the punishment.

Corporal punishment is wrong,regardless.

[Echo In Light]

Definitely. Thankfully most of our daughter's teachers have been very liberal

...dunno about all the various admin types, but corporal abuse isn't allowed in our state.

Having said that, however, my wife tells tales of abusive teachers who more or less 'got away with it' when she was young. The worst I encountered was the typical sorts of condescension and favoritism.

[dgibby]

12. The best teacher I ever had never even raised her voice,

let alone resorted to corporal punishment. She could wither us with a look or a simple statement about how "disappointed" she was in our behavior. She was our high school business teacher, and, as far as I know, never lost control of her classroom. Oh, did I mention that she was all of about 4'11" tall?

[rateyes]

16. I was paddled in 2nd grade for failing to get a paper signed by

my parents and returning it the next day. I made an A on the paper, BTW. Last damned time I ever forgot to get a paper signed. I'll never forget my first day of school. My dad took me to class the first day (1966) and said to my first grade teacher, "Ms. Williams, this is my son, "rateyes," and if he gets out of line, you have my permission to bust his rear end. And, afterward, I want you to call me, and when he gets home from school, I'll bust it again."

I'm totally against corporal punishment in school. But, I'm totally for parents backing up a teacher's decision to discipline a child. There are too many uninvolved parents when it comes to their children's education, and too many who think that their "little angel" can do no wrong, and have caniption fits when their child gets in trouble.

If parents would do their jobs of discipline at home, and back up the school and back up the school's punishment for misbehavior with punishment at home, there would be a lot less problems in the schools.

[rvablue]

24. I agree with you on the school's needing the backing of parents

in order to maintain order and carry out discipline.

But hitting them with a wooden paddle (or anything for that matter) is just plain wrong.

[rateyes]

34. I agree. That's why I said that I'm against corporal punishment.

[rvablue]

36. Sorry my post seemed like I didn't get that... I did.

I was just reaffirming what you wrote as I think it is a very, very important issue and it is not discussed enough! :)

[rateyes]

40. Cool

:hi:

[kiva]

19. Years ago, when this issue was being debated in Colorado,

the Rocky Mountain News had to run a correction to one of their stories. The article the previous day, the correction stated, had said that capital punishment was allowed in the schools; it should have said corporal punishment. I could picture teachers across the state sighing and putting away their guns (I was in high school at the time and tended to think the worst of teachers).

[Stuckinthebush]

20. I was paddled once in 1978

Junior High in Alabama.

My buddy Dale and I had some words with each other in class. Nothing serious but the teacher was tired and sent us to the office.

The principal asked us what happened, we told him and he made us bend over for a "butt whippin".

The next day my father walked into the principal's office and said, "If you ever touch my child again, I will personally come give you 'a whippin'."

I was never paddled again. If I got into trouble, I was required to do additional work or write an essay. That was way worse than a paddle, but my father was correct in his actions. If my children are ever physically abused by a teacher or administrator, I'll do the same.

[rvablue]

26. Nice story. And I bet the lesson

of your father defending your bodily safety and security had a much, much better effect on your psyche and future than being hit with a paddle ever could! :)

[Stuckinthebush]

35. You know, it did

My father is a peacemaker - a Presbyterian Minister actually.

Seeing him defend me like that was an eye opener. Today dad tells me that the principal was very rattled by him coming in there like that.

[alfredo]

28. Beatings can get out of hand. In our school it bordered on torture. One

teacher used techniques he learned as a POW in Japan. He did torture his students.

[ecstatic]

31. My *private* school in NY used corporal punishment

Many years ago--not sure if they still do it now. Seems kind of weird to hear about it being used in a public school.

BTW, I have no "behavioral issues" as a result.

[AllentownJake]

32. And the stereotypical liberals come out for the show

:rofl:

[sledgehammer]

33. Reminds me of my experiences in Zimbabwe

I spent a couple of years in Zimbabwe in the early 90s (when it was a great place to live). Went to a very, very British style school. Uniforms, prefects, your hair couldn't touch your collar or your eyebrows, caning (using a thin but sturdy stick to whip someone's ass), no hands in pockets, had to stand up whenever a teacher walked by, etc.

Prefects could punish you whenever they wanted - e.g. pushups, run around the field 10 times, etc. Also could assign you to manual labor (sand papering desks after class, cleaning classrooms, etc.) They would even insult students publicly during assembly.

Somewhat similar to Hogwarts actually! (we even had 4 "houses" that competed against each other throughout the year in a variety of activities). My brother now calls the experience "Hogwarts meets Guantanamo!" :)

I got caned once, for a stupid reason - was in the library instead of the study lounge during my free period. So the librarian sent me down to the principal's office to be caned (two strikes of the cane on my butt). All it did was make me vindictive, so whenever I was in the library (legally!), I would move books around just to make the librarian's life more difficult.

But besides the caning (and any other form of corporal punishment), I didn't mind the discipline. I really liked wearing uniforms, and the respect we had to give to teachers/elders. Also the emphasis on sports was very good, and the sense of competition was extremely high and generally productive.

[HughBeaumont]

37. I got paddled in first grade by a teacher for getting pushed out of line at a drinking fountain.

She didn't care that I was merely a bystander and had nothing to do with said individual's problems. More or less at the wrong place at the wrong time. She just saw two kids, one getting shoved and the other doing the shoving, and paddled both of us.

Never mind the fact that getting shoved out of line at a drinking fountain is a bullshit reason to paddle a kid to begin with.

I walked back in the class angry. I didn't cry, because frankly it didn't hurt all that much. The other kid was bawling his eyes out and the rest of the class silent and staring. I think that's the part that made me the most angry - the humiliation factor that both of us experienced being made an example of for something so trivial.

Didn't teach me a fucking thing except to dislike and not trust teachers. And school.

[patriotvoice]

38. A good ole' fashioned paddlin'.

I was first paddled in Christian Academy, kindergarten: I was 5 years old. I learned one very big lesson that day, and I remember it vividly. While I have remained mischievous, I was never paddled again.

[alcibiades_mystery]

39. School children also reported buggering by upperclassmen

But it was all in good fun and tradition, these anal rapes, and many old-school DU disciplinarians cheered the return to traditional values, especially where the kids these days always wear those baggy, hanging pants!

:puke:

[Dappleganger]

42. Nothing like a good old state-sanctioned beating...

How does the planning make it any better?

[Catherine Vincent]

44. It was the norm when I was in elementary in the 60's and 70's

I had this one teacher who really enjoyed paddling this one kid. I will never forget her and how the whole class disliked her. Her name was Ms. Brown. Sometimes she would paddle in front of the class and the way she looked and used all her strength to paddle this kid was abusive. Except us kids didn't realize it then. And I don't know why this boy's parents allowed the beatings to continue.

[Forkboy]

45. I'll approve of this when kids can paddle bad adults back.

[shadowknows69]

46. Can I retroactively sue my former schools

In elementary (K-5) school we had an ogre of a principal who proudly displayed his paddle on his wall. This would be late 70's early 80's at latest. Come to think of it I never met anyone who claimed they were it's victim so perhaps the deterrant was enough. Was for me anyway.

Had a high school science teacher that used to lock us in a dark room for 45 minutes too. Ah the money I could have made. Sigh.

[noamnety]

48. Corporal Punishment and Institutional Racism

Schools in this country consistently paddle black students at disproportionate rates.

On a hunch, I checked the school demographics. The elementary school in the OP is 53% black. The benevolent principal who is doing this for their own good - he's white. I knew that without even clicking the link because the stats are so consistent. Looking at the link, afterwards, I still found this image disturbing:



Many of these schools function as a training ground for black students to be conditioned to be abused by white men in authority. For girls - and the black girls are paddled at higher rates than white girls, white boys, or black boys - it serves as a training ground to learn to accept physical abuse by men who "care" about you.