{"id":6328,"date":"2026-02-13T11:27:25","date_gmt":"2026-02-13T11:27:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/todaynews11.online\/?p=6328"},"modified":"2026-02-13T11:27:25","modified_gmt":"2026-02-13T11:27:25","slug":"corporal-punishment-returns-why-some-texas-parents-are-opting-in","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/todaynews11.online\/?p=6328","title":{"rendered":"Corporal Punishment Returns: Why Some Texas Parents Are Opting In"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><a class=\"image-link\" href=\"https:\/\/realnewsz13.store\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/624381000_122272514270061915_2184319692213366341_n.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"attachment-hitmag-featured size-hitmag-featured wp-post-image\" src=\"https:\/\/realnewsz13.store\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/624381000_122272514270061915_2184319692213366341_n-735x400.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"735\" height=\"400\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"entry-content\">\n<p><strong>An \u201cOld-Fashioned\u201d Response to Modern Misbehavior<\/strong><br \/>\nA school district in Texas has decided to adopt a stricter, traditional approach to discipline by allowing\u00a0<strong>corporal punishment<\/strong>, specifically\u00a0<strong>paddling<\/strong>, for students who do not respond to other consequences. The move comes after ongoing issues with\u00a0<strong>misbehaving students<\/strong>\u00a0and a belief that schools cannot always rely on detentions or suspensions to correct behavior.<\/p>\n<div class=\"code-block code-block-2\"><\/div>\n<p><strong>What Corporal Punishment Means in This Context<\/strong><br \/>\nThe Texas Classroom Teacher Association defines corporal punishment as the\u00a0<strong>\u201cdeliberate infliction of pain\u201d<\/strong>\u00a0to enforce discipline. In schools,\u00a0<strong>paddling<\/strong>\u00a0typically refers to a teacher using a\u00a0<strong>wooden paddle<\/strong>\u00a0to strike a student as a consequence for misconduct.<\/p>\n<div class=\"code-block code-block-1\"><\/div>\n<p><strong>How Paddling Is Typically Used<\/strong><br \/>\nPaddling is described as a measure used for\u00a0<strong>serious or repeated behavior problems<\/strong>, often after other interventions fail.<\/p>\n<p>Common behaviors associated with paddling decisions may include:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Bullying<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Disrupting lessons or creating chaos in class<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Repeated disobedience<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Ignoring prior consequences such as detention or suspension<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>It is often framed as a\u00a0<strong>final warning<\/strong>\u00a0for students who do not change their behavior through other disciplinary steps.<\/p>\n<div class=\"code-block code-block-2\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tie-fluid-width-video-wrapper\"><iframe title=\"Texas school district approves paddling as punishment\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/6IFgzy-TJog\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<p><strong>Parent Reactions: Support and Strong Opposition<\/strong><br \/>\nThe policy has triggered a divided response among parents and educators.<\/p>\n<p>Some parents support the approach because they believe:<\/p>\n<div class=\"code-block code-block-3\"><\/div>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Pain-based consequences create immediate behavior change<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>School discipline should match home discipline<\/strong>\u00a0to reinforce consistent expectations<\/li>\n<li>A firm consequence can prevent repeated disruptions<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Others oppose it, arguing it could:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Create\u00a0<strong>fear or anxiety about school<\/strong><\/li>\n<li>Damage student-teacher trust<\/li>\n<li>Increase the risk that punishment could\u00a0<strong>cross into abuse<\/strong><\/li>\n<li>Normalize adults using physical force to solve problems<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Opt-In Policy: Consent Required<\/strong><br \/>\nThe\u00a0<strong>Three Rivers Independent School District<\/strong>\u00a0in Texas acknowledges that not all families agree with paddling. To address this, the district uses an\u00a0<strong>opt-in system<\/strong>, meaning:<\/p>\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Parents must provide\u00a0<strong>written consent<\/strong><\/li>\n<li>Parents must provide\u00a0<strong>verbal consent<\/strong><\/li>\n<li>A child can be\u00a0<strong>removed from the paddling list<\/strong>\u00a0if a parent later becomes uncomfortable<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>The policy suggests that parents who already use paddling at home are more likely to approve it at school, citing\u00a0<strong>consistency<\/strong>\u00a0as the main reason.<\/p>\n<p><strong>A Wider Trend: Corporal Punishment Reportedly Increasing<\/strong><br \/>\nThe text describes paddling as\u00a0<strong>rising in use<\/strong>, stating that\u00a0<strong>27 school districts<\/strong>\u00a0have adopted the practice. This trend has reignited debate over whether physical punishment belongs in public education.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Resistance and Racial Disparity Concerns<\/strong><br \/>\nOpposition has been led by\u00a0<strong>John B. King Jr.<\/strong>, described as the\u00a0<strong>Secretary of Education<\/strong>, who argues paddling should be banned. His concerns focus heavily on disproportionate impact:<\/p>\n<p>Key claims presented include:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>About\u00a0<strong>40,000 students<\/strong>\u00a0receive corporal punishment<\/li>\n<li><strong>More than one-third<\/strong>\u00a0of students punished this way are\u00a0<strong>Black<\/strong><\/li>\n<li>This is described as disproportionate compared to the claim that\u00a0<strong>16%<\/strong>\u00a0of public school students are Black<\/li>\n<li><strong>Black boys<\/strong>\u00a0are stated to be\u00a0<strong>1.8 times more likely<\/strong>\u00a0than white boys to receive corporal punishment<\/li>\n<li><strong>Black girls<\/strong>\u00a0are stated to be\u00a0<strong>2.9 times more likely<\/strong>\u00a0than white girls to receive it<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>How Supporters Respond to Discrimination Claims<\/strong><br \/>\nSchools that support the return of paddling reject the idea that prejudice drives these outcomes. They argue:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Discipline decisions are based on\u00a0<strong>behavior, not race<\/strong><\/li>\n<li>Paddling is presented as a tool to\u00a0<strong>teach consequences<\/strong>\u00a0and restore order<\/li>\n<li>The goal is to ensure students understand they must\u00a0<strong>behave in school settings<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>The Core Question<\/strong><br \/>\nAt the heart of the controversy is whether paddling is:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>A necessary, effective deterrent for serious misbehavior<br \/>\nor<\/li>\n<li>A harmful, outdated practice that can create fear and unequal outcomes<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The Texas decision has brought an old debate back into the spotlight:\u00a0<strong>How far should schools go to enforce discipline\u2014and what consequences are acceptable in a modern classroom?<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>An \u201cOld-Fashioned\u201d Response to Modern Misbehavior A school district in Texas has decided to adopt a stricter, traditional approach to discipline by allowing\u00a0corporal punishment, specifically\u00a0paddling, for students who do not &hellip; <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6328","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-blog"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/todaynews11.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6328","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/todaynews11.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/todaynews11.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/todaynews11.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/todaynews11.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=6328"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/todaynews11.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6328\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6329,"href":"https:\/\/todaynews11.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6328\/revisions\/6329"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/todaynews11.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=6328"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/todaynews11.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=6328"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/todaynews11.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=6328"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}