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I. Summary and Key Recommendations
Corporal Punishment in US Public Schools Key Recommendations
Corporal Punishment in US Public Schools
Key Recommendations
II. Methodology
III. Corporal Punishment in US Public Schools
The Mechanics of Corporal Punishment The Atmospherics of Corporal Punishment The Devils Bargain: Choosing to Be Beaten
The Mechanics of Corporal Punishment
The Atmospherics of Corporal Punishment
The Devils Bargain: Choosing to Be Beaten
IV. Offenses Leading to Corporal Punishment
Disproportionate Responses to Minor Misbehavior Vague Offenses and Arbitrary Use of Corporal Punishment Corporal Punishment for Serious Offenses, including Violence
Disproportionate Responses to Minor Misbehavior
Vague Offenses and Arbitrary Use of Corporal Punishment
Corporal Punishment for Serious Offenses, including Violence
V. Prevalence of Corporal Punishment in US Public Schools
Data on Corporal Punishment Constant and High Levels of Paddling in Some Schools
Data on Corporal Punishment
Constant and High Levels of Paddling in Some Schools
VI. Impact of Corporal Punishment
Lasting Injuries and Immediate Pain Depression and Anger Academic Disengagement and Drop Out Links to Domestic Violence
Lasting Injuries and Immediate Pain
Depression and Anger
Academic Disengagement and Drop Out
Links to Domestic Violence
VII. Best Practices in School Discipline
Positive Disciplinary Approaches Educators Views on Corporal Punishment
Positive Disciplinary Approaches
Educators Views on Corporal Punishment
VIII. The Use of Corporal Punishment against Specific Groups
Boys Paddled More Than Girls Race Particular Issues Raised by the Paddling of Girls Special Education Students and Students with Disabilities
Boys Paddled More Than Girls
Race
Particular Issues Raised by the Paddling of Girls
Special Education Students and Students with Disabilities
IX. Regulating Discipline in Schools
Regulations and Training on School Discipline Educators Who Disagree are without Recourse Parental Choice
Regulations and Training on School Discipline
Educators Who Disagree are without Recourse
Parental Choice
X. Seeking Redress for Corporal Punishment
School District Response to Parental Complaints Immunity for Perpetrators Lack of Adequate Responses from Police or Courts Parents Inability to Protect Children
School District Response to Parental Complaints
Immunity for Perpetrators
Lack of Adequate Responses from Police or Courts
Parents Inability to Protect Children
XI. Banning Corporal Punishment: International Human Rights Law and US Constitutional Standards
International Human Rights Law US Law Permitting Corporal Punishment Trends to Abolish Corporal Punishment
International Human Rights Law
US Law Permitting Corporal Punishment
Trends to Abolish Corporal Punishment
XII. Conclusion and Recommendations
To Legislatures in States with Corporal Punishment To Governors and Departments of Education in States with Corporal Punishment To Police, District Attorneys, and State Courts To the President of the United States To the United States Congress To the US Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights To School Boards, Superintendents, Principals, and Teachers To Teachers Colleges and Teacher Training Programs To Professional Bodies Working in Education To Private and Non-Profit Foundations that Fund US Public Education or Advocate for Improvements in Education
To Legislatures in States with Corporal Punishment
To Governors and Departments of Education in States with Corporal Punishment
To Police, District Attorneys, and State Courts
To the President of the United States
To the United States Congress
To the US Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights
To School Boards, Superintendents, Principals, and Teachers
To Teachers Colleges and Teacher Training Programs
To Professional Bodies Working in Education
To Private and Non-Profit Foundations that Fund US Public Education or Advocate for Improvements in Education
Acknowledgments
August 2008 ISBN: 1-56432-369-2