LANCASTER COUNTY, S.C. — A Lancaster County teacher of special needs students at Harrisburg Elementary School has resigned.
The 26-year-old woman was accused of spanking a 7-year-old boy with special needs in class.
Channel 9 learned that her teacher's aide, who reported the incident, also resigned from the school.
"What we're looking into is the inappropriate use of corporal punishment," school safety director Bryan Vaughn said.
In Lancaster County there is a proper use of paddling. It's still allowed both under South Carolina law and in the policy of the Lancaster County School District.
The teacher taught for four years at the school in Indian Land.
The incident happened back in December, but her teacher's aide who allegedly saw it, didn't come forward until this month.
In a Sheriff's Office report, the teacher's aide claims the child was being disruptive and the teacher spanked him three times. Twice on the bottom and once on the lower back.
The teacher later told deputies she has never hit any student and believes that her aide went to school officials, because they don't get along, according to the report.
Vaughn said technically corporal punishment is allowed in the district in K through 12th grade. However, he can't ever remember it being used.
"I don't know that we've had a practice of that in a very long time," he said.
According to school district policy if corporal punishment is used, there must be a witness. It must happen in a private room, be documented and parents are notified afterward.
They do not have to be told beforehand.
Vaughn said the incident at Harrisburg was in a classroom with at least 10 other students present and violated policy. No criminal charges have been filed.
Channel 9 checked and most other school districts in the area have banned corporal punishment. In Lancaster they said that part of the policy was never updated, so it's still on the books,
'It's just never been an issue. It's probably something the board will take a look at down the road," Vaughn said.
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