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Dallas Paddles the Kids--But in "Dignified Manner"

Education professional's quote of the week: Paddling is a part of a principal's tool box.

Hey with the nation following the Texas model, maybe the NCLB folks can add an addenum to NCLB, mandating paddling across America.

The parents of nearly 3,300 Dallas students say corporal punishment is acceptable for their children.

A policy change at the beginning of the school year banned paddling except in cases where parents give written permission.

So far, 3,274 parents have consented, and 147 students have been paddled, officials said.

"Paddling is a part of a principal's tool box," said Dallas school district trustee Ron Price. "It's not the first tool they use, but it's one of the tools."

Mr. Price lobbied to preserve paddling in some form last year when most trustees wanted to ban it completely.

Trustees revised the corporal punishment policy in August. Besides the parental consent provision, other changes were added.

The changes include a checklist of methods to be used before corporal punishment is administered, including assigning kids to community service, having parents observe their children in class and contracting with parents to restrict home privileges.

Letters, in both English and Spanish, explaining the changes were sent to schools and it was up to schools to disseminate the new information, the district said. The schools also were responsible for collecting the permission slips.

Before the revision, both teachers and administrators could paddle students with parental approval, said Dr. H.B. Bell, associate superintendent for alternative programs.

Now, only administrators may paddle, and they must follow guidelines that already were in place, he said.

"It must be done in an appropriate and dignified manner," Dr. Bell said. "It's done away from the presence of other students, and it's a last resort."

Parental consent forms have trickled in since the beginning of the year, district officials said.

The bulk of consent forms, more than 2,900, came from parents in the southern Dallas area, the district said.

Trustee Ken Zornes opposes paddling, even with the policy changes. Mr. Zornes sought to eliminate the corporal punishment policy before the revision.

"I'm going to be very disappointed in any request that the school district use corporal punishment on a student," Mr. Zornes said. "I think it should remain in the domain of the home."

Mr. Zornes called paddling a "quick remedy with no long-term impact."

Mr. Price sees it another way.

"I think parents in my area demand structure and discipline," he said. "They want to do whatever it takes to ensure the educational process is not disrupted by children acting out."

Paddling, he added, could be an alternative to suspension. It could also ensure that students spend more time inside, not outside, of the classroom, he said.


— Toya Lynn Stewart
Dallas parents approve paddling
Dallas Morning News
2004-02-02
http://www.dallasnews.com/s/dws/dn/latestnews/stories/020204dnmetpaddling.633c9.html

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