In These 19 States, Teachers Can Still Spank Kids
This may change in North Carolina, but what about the rest of the U.S.?
In November 2012 in front of the Supreme Court, Paula Flowe of New York City draws attention to a bill in Congress that would outlaw corporal punishment in schools. (Photo: Roll Call/Getty Images)
If John Tate, a North Carolina State Board of Education member, has his way, North Carolina will no longer allow teachers to spank their students.
Tate has asked the State Board to recommend that the North Carolina General Assembly and local school boards prohibit corporal punishment in every school in the state.
“The good news is that the vast majority of North Carolina’s districts ban the use of corporal punishment,” Tate said in an interview. “The less good news is that a handful still allow it. The preponderance of cases is housed in a smaller number still. It is time for North Carolina to stop the practice for all children.”
Earlier this month, a report to the North Carolina State Board of Education showed the number of corporal punishment cases fell from 891 during the 2010-2011 school year to 404 statewide during the 2011-2012 academic year.
Even though it's 2013, corporal punishment is allowed in public schools throughout the country, especially in the South. The 19 states that allow spanking in schools are: Arkansas, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Arizona, Texas, Missouri, Colorado, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Oklahoma, an