Jackson Free Press

Jackson Public School Board member Sollie Norwood is speculating on the possibility of returning corporal punishment to JPS. Norwood placed the discussion item on the June 18 JPS agenda and argued that a high number of parents might favor the discipline measure.

Norwood pointed out that the surrounding school districts, including both Madison and Rankin Counties, engage in corporal punishment, and he believes the tool would add to the arsenal of sanctions available to elementary school teachers who need to keep classroom disruption to a minimum.

Two board members, Jonathan Larkin and H. Ann Jones, stand vehemently against the idea of paddling students.

"I don't really get why (Norwood) is pushing for this thing," Larkin said. "We abandoned the practice in the 1990s because it wasn't working, and there were liability issues for the school in using it."

"We discovered in the 1990s that more than 90 percent of the corporal punishment administered was administered to African American boys," Larkin continued. "Also, the percentage of children receiving the punishment was low, and I feel there were better ways of discipline that actually work. It did not prove to be a deterrent to discipline problems. My feeling is that if parents want to engage in corporal punishment, then they should do that at home."

The two remaining board members, Maggie Benson White and Delmer Stamps, did not offer an opinion on the issue.

Shakti Belway, of the Mississippi Center for Justice, said she had seen too many cases of corporal punishment abuse.

"There are too many issues with the punishment. There are effective school discipline methods, and corporal punishment is not one of them," said Belway, who argued against the proposal at the June 18 meeting. "I've seen horrible abuses of corporal punishment up in the Delta districts. I've seen instances in which an administrator or teacher who makes racial slurs against a student is the same one paddling them for alleged misbehavior. I've seen children develop school phobia after getting beaten for minor things such as not knowing their address. There are too many problems associated with it to resort to it."

Previous Comments

ID

67793

Comment

The prophet Lionel Richie said in his smash hit record "Jesus Is love" the following: Fathers whip your children, don't let them fall by the side of the road, mmm.mmm.... And teach them to love one another that heaven might find a place in their hearts. We got to walk on, walk on through temptation, by putting the scraps to the behinds, cause his love and wisdom will be our helping hand. And I know the truth, and his words will be our salvation, lift up our hearts and be thankful and glad.

Author

Ray Carter

Date

2007-06-25T08:49:02-06:00

ID

67794

Comment

To be fair, not everone hears a song the same.

Author

Ray Carter

Date

2007-06-25T09:13:51-06:00

ID

67795

Comment

Paris "I can Have Whatever I Want" Hilton was released from jail last night. Is there any doubt that she and Nicole "My Daddy is Lionel" Richie needed whippings a long time ago? Perhaps they wouldn't be such drug abusers and party-harlot-like role models for so many had the rod not been sparred. Yeah I know Lionel's and daddy Hilton's presence and love were also needed. Corporal punishment will always be abused in public entitities such as schools where you have racist, prejudiced and unfair people administering it. However, in homes where parents are responsible for raising their childrens, punishment including whippings short of abuse shouldn't be banished or declared illegal. I won't even mention how this country follishly allows money to trump morals, standards and decency.

Author

Ray Carter

Date

2007-06-26T08:23:34-06:00

ID

67796

Comment

Nicole is probably headed for the slammer next, isn't she? That is, if the judge doesn't give her a slap on the wrist and sends her on her merry way. The girl drove on the wrong side of the highway, for crying out loud. It's a miracle that no one was killed.

Author

LatashaWillis

Date

2007-06-26T08:51:50-06:00

ID

67797

Comment

I just learned Paris reportedly found God while in jail being punished. If Momma and Daddy Hilton had been putting the strap to her narrow behind before jail she would have likely found God much earlier. It'll be interesting to see whether she loses him (God) now that she's released from jail and has unlimited access to the bottle, pipe, opposite sex and millionaire lifestyle again. I wish her the best.

Author

Ray Carter

Date

2007-06-26T16:15:33-06:00

ID

67798

Comment

Well, Ray, like I heard a preacher say, time will tell.

Author

LatashaWillis

Date

2007-06-26T16:19:59-06:00

ID

67799

Comment

I can't believe they're thinking about this stupid plan.

Author

Ironghost

Date

2007-06-26T16:30:37-06:00

ID

67800

Comment

Please don't make Paris Hilton the poster child for spanking. Then everyone will want to do it... for one reason or another.

Author

Lady Havoc

Date

2007-06-26T17:16:09-06:00

ID

67801

Comment

Does anyone else see we have two threads with the same title?

Author

Lady Havoc

Date

2007-06-26T17:17:48-06:00

ID

67802

Comment

Yes. That's happened a few times after a new paper has been put out.

Author

LatashaWillis

Date

2007-06-26T17:27:15-06:00

ID

67803

Comment

Mmmm... spanking and Paris Hilton... :-P I really think she should have thought before she posted...

Author

pikersam

Date

2007-06-26T17:54:00-06:00

ID

67804

Comment

When I was in school (Catholic) the nuns insisted that the parent came to school and administered the spanking in front of the class. Those who got this treatment only got it once, the shame and embarassment was to much to be repeated, except for one bad boy whos dad came twice. The last time was enough to last him althrough high school. This seemed to work well with those who decided to act up. Maybe if this would happen now it might help. It would at least let the school know which parent is serious about their child and education. When we had our class reunion (30) the guys claimed this stuck with them foever and helped to keep them on track. We girls knew better so we kept cool.

Author

jada

Date

2007-06-26T18:19:52-06:00

ID

67805

Comment

jada, that's an interesting approach. That would help with the liability factor.

Author

LatashaWillis

Date

2007-06-26T20:22:11-06:00

ID

67806

Comment

Still barbaric. We've come too far to go back now.

Author

Lady Havoc

Date

2007-06-26T20:33:04-06:00

ID

67807

Comment

It is not barbaric to whip, not beat, your child. Is he or she too good to get a whipping? The outside world won't think so! No wonder so many children are so spoiled and think they they can do whatever they want. We have to get our children in line or the mean wide world will do it for us. Whippings are fine when needed and done sparingly. It shows the child just how serious the parent is about the behavior and it show the pain of childrearing that a parent has to go through and a child needs to see. My father only whipped me twice that I can recall. Once for trying to swim in a neighbor's pond, and once for rolling my eyes behind his back when he demanded I do something I didn't want to do. I had been doing it for months and thinking he didn't notice. I was likely his favorite boy or child. Anyway, I rolled my eyes in front of several of my friends once as he instructed me to do something and suddenly I realized he saw it. He placed my head between his legs with my behind turned toward heaven (where I wished I was during the whole ordeal) and gave me the last whipping I ever needed from him. After the whipping I walked onto the porch crying, my dad got mad again and came onto the porch and started whipping me again so I ran behind the house. While there he came after me again and I ran into the woods. I thought this whipping was too mean or extreme but as I look back the pain wasn't that bad. I was more embarassed than injured. It was the fact that I had driven my father over the edge or cross his threshhold that was the most damaging to me and to him. Despite this whipping I never doubted my father loved me and he gave me everything I ever needed or asked for until I was a grown man. I needed that correction and he gave it in a way I'll never forget. My grandson Caleb amazingly does the same thing. I see me in him all the time. Of course, I won't give him the whipping my daddy gave me because I couldn't personally do it, and I likely would have to face the authorities. Yet I will whip his little butt if I deemed it necessary and appropriate to change or curtail dangerous behavior. And yes I have spanked his behind several times. My granddaughter too. They love granddaddy but knows granddaddy will kick a little tail if he needs to.

Author

Ray Carter

Date

2007-06-27T07:53:39-06:00

ID

67808

Comment

As I think more about it, the best technique is likely to do WHATEVER WORKS BEST in raising children. My sisters never had to get the whippings we boys got. They didn't dare to do may of the things we boys did. They weren't as hardheaded.

Author

Ray Carter

Date

2007-06-27T08:31:32-06:00

ID

67809

Comment

Ray, I'm surprised you have any skin left. I can tell that you used to be a real-life Dennis the Menace. :-P

Author

LatashaWillis

Date

2007-06-27T09:01:16-06:00

ID

67810

Comment

I'm down with Ray's opinion.

Author

Jeff Lucas

Date

2007-06-27T12:27:11-06:00

ID

67811

Comment

^^^ That means I agree with him.

Author

Jeff Lucas

Date

2007-06-27T12:27:43-06:00

ID

67812

Comment

Ray how do you think you would have felt if he had whipped u in front of your peers?

Author

jada

Date

2007-06-27T12:42:48-06:00

ID

67813

Comment

Jada he started off whipping me in front of my friends who were with me; howvwer, once they saw what he was doing to me they all ran the hell home. Back then parents could whip everybody's behind they thought needed it. I bet they ran for fear he would grab them too for laughting or would call their parents to inform them of disrespectful behavior. I sincerly doubt whipping me in front of my peers would have caused me to dislike, hate or have a problem with my father. As far back as I can remember I knew certain behaviors and facts have consequences. I felt then and now that I earned that whipping. My dad's inclination was not to whip unless you asked for it. The good thing about the old ways was you didn't have to bargain, bribe or negotiate. We did what our parents said because they said so. Now days I hear why, later or no from children. My ancestors/predecessors didn't play that sh1t and I don't blame them. In my opinion, my daddy had the perfect balance of love and wrath. He preferred love but wasn't opposed to wrath and correction by switch or belt.

Author

Ray Carter

Date

2007-06-27T12:57:01-06:00

ID

67814

Comment

I should add that I'm more open to the why questions than my ancestors were because questions and answers are mentally stimulating and complel one to think and grow. I'll even entertain negotiations though I'm not really that crazy about it when I'm paying the cost to be the boss. I will bribe only if it will guarantee an excellent or very good result that can be used as a teachable moment. Otherewise, I'm old school and full of bluff, according to my wife. She doesn't think I'll break a foot off into a child's behind but I will.

Author

Ray Carter

Date

2007-06-27T13:13:39-06:00

ID

67815

Comment

Ray, you're a lawyer. Of course you are for Corporal Punishment! It'll mean more business for the sue-happy citizens of Jackson and the lawyers who love it. I know they'll file frivolous lawsuits by the thousands against teachers they hate to get them fired.

Author

Ironghost

Date

2007-06-27T13:35:56-06:00

ID

67816

Comment

Iron the last thing I want to see is good institution being sued. I have never sued a school or school personnel and doubt I ever will. I'm a decent human being first and formost. Being a lawyer has little or nothing to do with who I am. I could very easily be something else and still be happy and fulfilled. If you think I'm the typical lawyer then you don't know many of them or me. I doubt I'm the blind one here, as I have studied the "whippings are wrong type", and their children. I've grown tired of them begging their children to do something and hearing them get cursed at and shamed by their children publicly. One such child, a female, recently called her daddy an mf and he overlooked it. I would have shown her the other father she didn't know she had. Once again, I'm for wahtever works, whippings or no whippings. But I expect something to do the job.

Author

Ray Carter

Date

2007-06-27T13:56:34-06:00

ID

67817

Comment

I doubt I'm the blind one here, as I have studied the "whippings are wrong type", and their children. I've grown tired of them begging their children to do something and hearing them get cursed at and shamed by their children publicly. One such child, a female, recently called her daddy an mf and he overlooked it. I would have shown her the other father she didn't know she had. Ray, how do you feel about parents who can't control their children in public, like at the grocery store? My mom works at a department store, and she gripes all the time about how she sees children talking back to their moms and knocking down merchandise. Also, how do you feel about shows like Supernanny and Nanny 911?

Author

LatashaWillis

Date

2007-06-27T14:14:40-06:00

ID

67818

Comment

I haven't really watched either Supernanny or Nanny 911. I saw just a little of the one with the nanny from England whichever show that is. I view it as an experimentation in Whitedom. No disrespect intended. I don't know any black folks who would put up with children like that. Most of the folks I know are sane, and I stay away from those living and loving insanity. Bad children are driving old folks to an early grave. You're suppoesed to rest when old but these poorly raised children won't let you. I'm moving into the wilderness once I grow old. I'll take my chances with the bugs, ants, snakes and birds. Oh yeah I think those bad ass children raising hell in stores and malls should be arrested and put into children's jail until they grow up. And their parents put in there with them.

Author

Ray Carter

Date

2007-06-27T14:36:31-06:00

ID

67819

Comment

Ray, both shows have nannies from England. Supernanny is on ABC, and Nanny 911 is on Fox. I like Supernanny better, and I think her approach is pretty good for those who don't wish to spank.

Author

LatashaWillis

Date

2007-06-27T14:43:48-06:00

ID

67820

Comment

I think I saw a little of of the one on ABC. I could barely stand to watch it. It's not my cup of tea. A whipping in the first 30 seconds of the show could best 6 months of paying a nanny and begging little Johnny to grow up. Spare the butt and spoil the child. Isn't that in the good book somewhere.

Author

Ray Carter

Date

2007-06-27T14:55:14-06:00

ID

67821

Comment

Ray, my mom yells at the TV when she watches it. "Just let me get a hold of 'em!" As for the Good Book: He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes. - Proverbs 13:24 Withhold not correction from the child: for if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die. - Proverbs 23:13 Thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from hell. - Proverbs 23:14 However, I think these verses can also be viewed in a figurative sense. I don't think an actual rod has to be used in every instance. Of course, since I have no children, I can only say so much, but I have a nephew and two nieces, and I don't whip them every time they do something. My fussing is usually enough, and doing things like turning off the TV works pretty well.

Author

LatashaWillis

Date

2007-06-27T15:09:39-06:00

ID

67822

Comment

I said about this in another thread. Shepherds used the rod for guidance, to guide the sheep where they wanted to go. They didn't beat the sheep with it. Maybe the sheep could have used a good beating. I mean, they're just animals.

Author

Lady Havoc

Date

2007-06-27T15:19:23-06:00

ID

67823

Comment

LH, I remember you saying that in the other thread.

Author

LatashaWillis

Date

2007-06-27T15:31:19-06:00

ID

67824

Comment

"Spare not the scrap unless ye used a switch instead. Sparing ye switch or scrap will cause ye and others to grow old while still young, for ye kids will grow addled-brained and troublesome. Raise ye children for it is ye responsiblity, not the world's. If the scrap and/or switch weren't necessary I wouldn't have given them to ye. For ye who raises his children without either the scrap or switch will have few stories to tell of how mannerable, good and exemplary ye children were." From the Intermediate Testament that few have read.

Author

Ray Carter

Date

2007-06-27T15:37:48-06:00

ID

67825

Comment

No wonder they left the Intermediate Testament out of the Bible. LOL

Author

LatashaWillis

Date

2007-06-27T15:45:50-06:00

ID

67826

Comment

All I'm saying Ray, is that it will happen and happen often. I've seen and witnessed parents getting away with much, much worse in JPS.

Author

Ironghost

Date

2007-06-27T16:33:22-06:00