Corporal punishment
Spare the rod and spoil the child,’ ‘reading, writing, and ‘rithmatic must be taught to the tune of the hickory stick.’ These old folk sayings reflect he pervasiveness of corporal punishment in American education, which exists in many states of the union well into the 21st century. One mother from the southern state of Arkansas wrote a popular educational columnist to note that in her state corporal punishment was commonly used. The mother hastened to add that she “wouldn’t have a problem with it if it was used correctly (as a last resort, with the parents’ knowledge and participation)” but worried it was often used for minor infractions, such as “not having homework and supplies” (Starr 2002). The latter condition might not even be the child’s fault, if the parent could not afford the correct color folder or type of pencil demanded by the assignment. Parents were also uniformed when the punishment took place.
While the columnist was “flabbergasted” that the woman was speaking of a modern public school, this Arkansas mother’s situation was not unique (Starr 2001). Corporal punishment in schools is legal in twenty-one states and is used in a manner described as “frequently in thirteen: “Missouri, Kentucky, Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee and Florida, according to the Office for Civil Rights at the U.S. Department of Education. “The highest percentage of students receiving corporal punishment was in Mississippi, with 7.5% of students. The highest number was in Texas, with 48,197 students” (More than 200,000 kids spanked at school, 2008, CNN.com). Of those students, African-Americans comprise thirty-seven percent of all the students receiving physical punishment, although they make up only seventeen percent of the total school population. In contrast white students make up sixty-three percent of the student population and receive fifty-five percent of the corporal punishments (Starr 2002).
However, despite her arena of expertise the columnist may be forgiven for her surprise that corporal punishment was legal in the public school systems of so many states. The use of corporal punishment is banned against incarcerated inmates in prisons, the military, and against the violent, mentally ill in hospitals.
Almost every industrialized country in the world except the United States, five Canadian provinces, and one Australian state prohibits corporal punishment in the public schools. Yet on the other hand, perhaps these findings should not be so surprising, given that sixty-five percent of Americans support spanking as a means of discipline.
Corporal punishment still remains widely used in most American families. Regarding the data on its effectiveness, in a recent large-scale meta-analysis and literature of eight-eight existing studies by psychologist Elizabeth Thompson Gershoff, the use of corporal punishment was linked to increased child aggression and antisocial behavior. Only positive association with corporal punishment was the increased, immediate compliance on the part of the child while the other strongest association was between corporal punishment and the physical abuse of the child by the parent (Is corporal punishment an effective means of discipline, APA, 2002). However, some argue this association is due to correlation rather than causality. For example, corporal punishment may be more apt to be used by less educated and advantaged parents, but is not the cause of abuse, and the child’s privations may be the cause of the antisocial behavior. Or antisocial children may be more apt to be spanked in the first place. However, many of Gershoff’s studies did control for these social, demographic, and psychological factors. Still, regarding its use in schools, where it is practiced it is justified by many supporters that “teachers may have overcrowded classrooms and lack resources such as counselors to assist with particularly disruptive students or classroom dynamics” and thus it is necessary (More than 200,000 kids spanked at school, 2008, CNN.com).
Little data exists upon issues of race and corporal punishment — is corporal punishment in schools mainly administered by white administrators against black students? Against same-race administrations against same-race students? This dynamic could increase its pejorative institutional effects. Also, questions of race and religion, if certain races or religions are more apt to spank demands further analysis, although most ‘pro-spanking’ groups tend to be evangelical, southern, and Protestant in focus, reflecting the demographic composition, in short, of states where spanking is still tolerated in schools. Of the data that does exist regarding demographics, boys are more apt to receive corporal punishment for the same infractions than girls, and African-American boys are more apt to be spanked than Caucasian females a rate of 16:1 (Gregory 1995, p.1). But there is little data as to exactly how punishment is administered in different schools, anecdotally some involve authority figures: “twisting children’s arms; banging their heads on desks; ramming them up against lockers or walls; and punching, slapping, kicking, and shaking them into submission. Instruments that reportedly have been used to inflict CP include wooden paddles, rubber hoses, leather straps and belts, switches” (Gregory 1995, p.1). Supporters of corporal punishment state they are against its misuse, and these methods or examples of physical punishment for minor infractions should not be used as an argument against the practice entirely. Opponents state that the existence of corporal punishment fosters aggression and hostility in the hearts of helpless students, and the availability of this disciplinary tool invites misuse.
While African-American males are more likely to receive corporal punishment than white males or females, comparative data does not exist in terms of the racial composition of the inflictor of punishment, to note if white administrators are more apt to punish non-white students, if non-white administrators are more apt to punish non-white students, and regarding the racial identities of supporters of corporal punishment in general. For example, are cultures with more harsh disciplinary techniques against children more apt to produce children who are aggressive and respond positively to spanking in schools? Interestingly, while religious preferences for corporal punishment are well-documented, this is not the case for race and/or ethnicity. Further awareness about these characteristics would illuminate the causation/correlation debate, the question as to whether certain regional or ethnic cultures are more supportive of spanking, and questions about bias in administrating corporal punishment in school.
Works Cited
Gregory, James F. (1995). The crime of punishment: Racial and gender disparities in the use of corporal punishment in U.S. public schools. The Journal of Negro Education.
Retrieved February 15, 2009 at http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3626/is_199510/ai_n8721467
Is corporal punishment an effective means of discipline? (2002, June 26). American
Psychological Association (APA) Press Release. Retrieved February 15, 2009 at http://www.apa.org/releases/spanking.html
More than 200,000 kids spanked at school. (2008, August 28). CNN.com. Retrieved February 15, 2009 at http://www.cnn.com/2008/U.S./08/20/corporal.punishment/
Starr, Linda (2002). Teaching violence through violence Education World. Retrieved February 15, 2009 at http://www.educationworld.com/a_issues/starr/starr051.shtml
Corporal punishment
Get Professional Assignment Help Cheaply
Are you busy and do not have time to handle your assignment? Are you scared that your paper will not make the grade? Do you have responsibilities that may hinder you from turning in your assignment on time? Are you tired and can barely handle your assignment? Are your grades inconsistent?
Whichever your reason is, it is valid! You can get professional academic help from our service at affordable rates. We have a team of professional academic writers who can handle all your assignments.
Why Choose Our Academic Writing Service?
- Plagiarism free papers
- Timely delivery
- Any deadline
- Skilled, Experienced Native English Writers
- Subject-relevant academic writer
- Adherence to paper instructions
- Ability to tackle bulk assignments
- Reasonable prices
- 24/7 Customer Support
- Get superb grades consistently
Online Academic Help With Different Subjects
Literature
Students barely have time to read. We got you! Have your literature essay or book review written without having the hassle of reading the book. You can get your literature paper custom-written for you by our literature specialists.
Finance
Do you struggle with finance? No need to torture yourself if finance is not your cup of tea. You can order your finance paper from our academic writing service and get 100% original work from competent finance experts.
Computer science
Computer science is a tough subject. Fortunately, our computer science experts are up to the match. No need to stress and have sleepless nights. Our academic writers will tackle all your computer science assignments and deliver them on time. Let us handle all your python, java, ruby, JavaScript, php , C+ assignments!
Psychology
While psychology may be an interesting subject, you may lack sufficient time to handle your assignments. Don’t despair; by using our academic writing service, you can be assured of perfect grades. Moreover, your grades will be consistent.
Engineering
Engineering is quite a demanding subject. Students face a lot of pressure and barely have enough time to do what they love to do. Our academic writing service got you covered! Our engineering specialists follow the paper instructions and ensure timely delivery of the paper.
Nursing
In the nursing course, you may have difficulties with literature reviews, annotated bibliographies, critical essays, and other assignments. Our nursing assignment writers will offer you professional nursing paper help at low prices.
Sociology
Truth be told, sociology papers can be quite exhausting. Our academic writing service relieves you of fatigue, pressure, and stress. You can relax and have peace of mind as our academic writers handle your sociology assignment.
Business
We take pride in having some of the best business writers in the industry. Our business writers have a lot of experience in the field. They are reliable, and you can be assured of a high-grade paper. They are able to handle business papers of any subject, length, deadline, and difficulty!
Statistics
We boast of having some of the most experienced statistics experts in the industry. Our statistics experts have diverse skills, expertise, and knowledge to handle any kind of assignment. They have access to all kinds of software to get your assignment done.
Law
Writing a law essay may prove to be an insurmountable obstacle, especially when you need to know the peculiarities of the legislative framework. Take advantage of our top-notch law specialists and get superb grades and 100% satisfaction.
What discipline/subjects do you deal in?
We have highlighted some of the most popular subjects we handle above. Those are just a tip of the iceberg. We deal in all academic disciplines since our writers are as diverse. They have been drawn from across all disciplines, and orders are assigned to those writers believed to be the best in the field. In a nutshell, there is no task we cannot handle; all you need to do is place your order with us. As long as your instructions are clear, just trust we shall deliver irrespective of the discipline.
Are your writers competent enough to handle my paper?
Our essay writers are graduates with bachelor's, masters, Ph.D., and doctorate degrees in various subjects. The minimum requirement to be an essay writer with our essay writing service is to have a college degree. All our academic writers have a minimum of two years of academic writing. We have a stringent recruitment process to ensure that we get only the most competent essay writers in the industry. We also ensure that the writers are handsomely compensated for their value. The majority of our writers are native English speakers. As such, the fluency of language and grammar is impeccable.
What if I don’t like the paper?
There is a very low likelihood that you won’t like the paper.
Reasons being:
- When assigning your order, we match the paper’s discipline with the writer’s field/specialization. Since all our writers are graduates, we match the paper’s subject with the field the writer studied. For instance, if it’s a nursing paper, only a nursing graduate and writer will handle it. Furthermore, all our writers have academic writing experience and top-notch research skills.
- We have a quality assurance that reviews the paper before it gets to you. As such, we ensure that you get a paper that meets the required standard and will most definitely make the grade.
In the event that you don’t like your paper:
- The writer will revise the paper up to your pleasing. You have unlimited revisions. You simply need to highlight what specifically you don’t like about the paper, and the writer will make the amendments. The paper will be revised until you are satisfied. Revisions are free of charge
- We will have a different writer write the paper from scratch.
- Last resort, if the above does not work, we will refund your money.
Will the professor find out I didn’t write the paper myself?
Not at all. All papers are written from scratch. There is no way your tutor or instructor will realize that you did not write the paper yourself. In fact, we recommend using our assignment help services for consistent results.
What if the paper is plagiarized?
We check all papers for plagiarism before we submit them. We use powerful plagiarism checking software such as SafeAssign, LopesWrite, and Turnitin. We also upload the plagiarism report so that you can review it. We understand that plagiarism is academic suicide. We would not take the risk of submitting plagiarized work and jeopardize your academic journey. Furthermore, we do not sell or use prewritten papers, and each paper is written from scratch.
When will I get my paper?
You determine when you get the paper by setting the deadline when placing the order. All papers are delivered within the deadline. We are well aware that we operate in a time-sensitive industry. As such, we have laid out strategies to ensure that the client receives the paper on time and they never miss the deadline. We understand that papers that are submitted late have some points deducted. We do not want you to miss any points due to late submission. We work on beating deadlines by huge margins in order to ensure that you have ample time to review the paper before you submit it.
Will anyone find out that I used your services?
We have a privacy and confidentiality policy that guides our work. We NEVER share any customer information with third parties. Noone will ever know that you used our assignment help services. It’s only between you and us. We are bound by our policies to protect the customer’s identity and information. All your information, such as your names, phone number, email, order information, and so on, are protected. We have robust security systems that ensure that your data is protected. Hacking our systems is close to impossible, and it has never happened.
How our Assignment Help Service Works
1. Place an order
You fill all the paper instructions in the order form. Make sure you include all the helpful materials so that our academic writers can deliver the perfect paper. It will also help to eliminate unnecessary revisions.
2. Pay for the order
Proceed to pay for the paper so that it can be assigned to one of our expert academic writers. The paper subject is matched with the writer’s area of specialization.
3. Track the progress
You communicate with the writer and know about the progress of the paper. The client can ask the writer for drafts of the paper. The client can upload extra material and include additional instructions from the lecturer. Receive a paper.
4. Download the paper
The paper is sent to your email and uploaded to your personal account. You also get a plagiarism report attached to your paper.
PLACE THIS ORDER OR A SIMILAR ORDER WITH US TODAY AND GET A PERFECT SCORE!!!
