Corporal Punishment

Description of Corporal Punishment

Corporal punishment is the purposeful infliction of physical pain to punish a student for misbehavior. Corporal punishment includes spanking, paddling, pinching, shoving, arm twisting, slapping, and shaking. The immediate goal of corporal punishment is to stop a student's unacceptable behavior, and the longterm goal is to deter students from engaging in misbehavior in the future. Corporal punishment does not include physical restraint or actions a teacher or administrator takes to protect himor herself or others from injury as long as reasonable force is used.

Corporal Punishment in America's Schools

Corporal punishment has been used as a method for disciplining students in America's public schools since colonial times. The roots of the practice can be traced back to ...

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