# I did know that corporal punishment is allowed in many schools

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-did-know-that-corporal-punishment-is-allowed-in-many-schools/576602>\
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\
**Created:** [March 31, 2011, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-did-know-that-corporal-punishment-is-allowed-in-many-schools/576602 "2011-03-31T04:38:46Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Runs\_With\_Scissors](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/278dde/32.png) [@Runs\_With\_Scissors](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Runs_With_Scissors)\
**Post date:** [March 31, 2011, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-did-know-that-corporal-punishment-is-allowed-in-many-schools/576602/1 "2011-03-31T04:38:46Z")

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But when I first learned it, about five years ago, I didn’t believe it, so I looked it up.

Now some districts are doing away with it.

[NY Times Article](https://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/28/education/30paddle.html?ref=education)

**From the article:** Opponents of the measure, like State Senator Vernon D. Asbill, worried that a ban would tie teachers’ hands and make it harder for them to control students. “With parental supervision and parental approval, I believe it’s appropriate,” said Mr. Asbill, a Republican and a longtime teacher and school administrator from Carlsbad. “The threat of it keeps many of our kids in line so they can learn."

Wow. Wow. Wow.

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**Author:** ![PSXer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/48db29/32.png) [@PSXer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PSXer)\
**Post date:** [March 31, 2011, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-did-know-that-corporal-punishment-is-allowed-in-many-schools/576602/2 "2011-03-31T04:43:38Z")

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Kids these days are too coddled.

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**Author:** ![Shmendrik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Shmendrik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shmendrik)\
**Post date:** [March 31, 2011, 5:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-did-know-that-corporal-punishment-is-allowed-in-many-schools/576602/3 "2011-03-31T05:21:28Z")

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While we’re on the topic of education, here’s one of those SAT analogy comparisons for you:

Q) “when I first learned it, about five years ago, I didn’t believe it, so I looked it up.” : **Runs with the Scissors** and perhaps the SDMB in general ::

A) “I can’t believe Nixon won. I don’t know anybody who voted for him.” : Pauline Kael  
ETA: Yes, I know she never said that, but it illustrates the point that your surprise says more about you than about the the use of corporal punishment in schools.

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**Author:** ![Runs\_With\_Scissors](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/278dde/32.png) [@Runs\_With\_Scissors](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Runs_With_Scissors)\
**Post date:** [April 1, 2011, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-did-know-that-corporal-punishment-is-allowed-in-many-schools/576602/4 "2011-04-01T03:01:14Z")

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> [@Shmendrik](#):
>
> ETA: Yes, I know she never said that, but it illustrates the point that your surprise says more about you than about the the use of corporal punishment in schools.

Yeah, but I live in the liberal enclave of Portland, Oregon, so I often forget what it’s like elsewhere 🙂