FILE:  JDA

 

CORPORAL PUNISHMENT

 

 

Due to a necessity to authorize methods of discipline other than suspension and/or expulsion, in administering discipline under certain circumstances, the Sabine Parish School Board has established the following guidelines on the use of corporal punishment by teachers and administrators in this school system in order to give the student and parents an alternative to punishment which would deprive him/her of attendance in school.

 

SECTION 1.

 

The only type of corporal punishment which may be administered to students by employees of this school system shall be as defined and described in Section 2 hereof and may be administered only by those persons designated in Section 3 hereof and only under the conditions set forth in Section 4 hereof.

 

SECTION 2.

 

  1. Corporal punishment is defined as, and limited to, punishing or correcting a student by striking the student in the buttocks with a paddle a maximum of five (5) times.  When such corporal punishment is administered to a student, it shall be administered in a reasonable manner taking into consideration the age, size, emotional condition and health of the student.
     

  2. Nothing contained herein shall be interpreted as prohibiting an employee from using physical force, reasonable and appropriate under the circumstances, in defending himself/herself against a physical attack by a student or from using physical force, reasonable and appropriate under the circumstances, to restrain a student from attacking another student or employee.
     

  3. Corporal punishment should be used after other methods have failed.
     

  4. Teachers and administrators are encouraged and urged to motivate students to or for learning and behavior by means other than corporal punishment.

 

SECTION 3.

 

Corporal punishment as defined herein, shall be administered only by a principal, assistant principal, or teacher after having obtained permission from the principal.  Such corporal punishment shall be administered only in the presence of another member of the professional staff of the school.

 

SECTION 4.

 

  1. Corporal punishment may be administered to a student in lieu of giving him/her a short term suspension for violation of any of the school regulations.
     

  2. Prior to the administering of corporal punishment, as is the case with other disciplinary measures, the principal, assistant principal, or teacher, as the case may be, shall advise the student of the particular misconduct of which he/she is accused as well as the basis for such accusation and the pupil shall be given an opportunity to explain his or her version of the facts prior to imposition of such corporal punishment.
     

  3. A record of each incident of corporal punishment shall be kept which shall include the name of the student and the time, date, details of the violation, form of discipline administered, the person administering such discipline and the witnesses thereto.  Upon request of the parents, the principal or assistant principal shall notify the parents, or person having legal custody of the student, of such violation and punishment.

 

SECTION 5.

 

A copy of this resolution and policy on the use of corporal punishment shall be distributed to parents and students and shall become a part of the discipline policy handbook.

 

 

Ref:     U.S. Constitution, Amend. XIII

U.S. Constitution, Amend. XIV, Sec. 1

La. Rev. Stat. Ann. ยงยง17:81.6, 17:223, 17:235.1, 17:416, 17:416.1

Ingraham v. Wright, 97 S. Ct. 1401, (1977)

Baker v. Owen, 96 S. Ct. 210 affirming 395 F. Supp. 294 (M.D.N.C., 1975)

Board minutes, 12-15-76

 

Sabine Parish School Board