Report: School paddling dwindling, but most happen to K-4 students

In North Carolina, it is illegal to hit an inmate, but every day in the state's public schools children are paddled. 

North Carolina is one of 19 states that still allow corporal punishment to be used in schools. 

For the first time ever, state education leaders are learning how many times children are hit and which districts still allow corporal punishment. 

At times, Principal Charles Gaffigan has to wield a paddle to discipline students at East McDowell Junior High School. 

“This (paddle) was made for me by a student at the high school," he said.

Last year, corporal punishment was used 70 times in the McDowell County School District. 

Gaffigan said as many as 90 percent of his school's parents support corporal punishment, and it’s not hard to find advocates of the system. 

"It needs to be there. That's the way I was raised. That's where I've learned respect to grow up and be who I am," said Tina Kelley, mother of a student in the McDowell County School District.

But the number of school districts in North Carolina that allow corporal punishment is dwindling. Currently, only 20 of the 115 districts statewide permit the physical punishments.  

Only half of those use it. 

Corporal punishment is still on the books in Alexander County, but it has not been used in years. 

"There is absolutely no place in America to abuse a child in the name of discipline, but I think occasionally the thought of the opportunity to be paddled is a deterrent to some kids," said Associate Superintendent Jeffrey Peal.

Starting this school year, the state allowed parents to opt out of corporal punishment, but in Alexander County three out of every four parents allowed it. 

For the first time ever, the state school board saw the numbers this month. 

There were 891 cases of corporal punishment statewide last year. More than half of those were in grades Kindergarten through fourth.    

Tom Vitaglione of Action For Children has spent the past 27 years trying to get corporal punishment banned. He was shocked by the report’s findings on who is being hit.

“More than 20 percent of the students are students with disabilities, and we think that's just a tragedy that those students are being hit by school personnel," Vitaglione said.

But Gaffigan said the McDowell County School system does not allow children with disabilities to be paddled.  

Some parents prefer corporal punishment over in-school suspension. 

"They would rather make this consequence immediate, so hopefully it won't happen again, so they will remember it, but then get them back in class as soon as possible," Gaffigan said.

"I think it is an archaic manner of dealing with discipline," said Dr. William Harrison, the chairman of the state board of education.  

Harrison has strong feelings about the use of corporal punishment, but he and the board have been hesitant to act, saying it is a local decision.  

"I guess hearing the numbers today, it may cause me to say, ‘Let's move forward and get involved,’" he said after hearing the details in the report on corporal punishment.

If the state does get involved, it could force the paddles to be put away permanently. 

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Use of Corporal Punishment by Ethnicity, Race and Gender (2010-11)

Use of Corporal Punishment by Grade Level (2010-11)

Use of Corporal Punishment by Offense Type (2010-11)