Punishment In Schools And How It Affects Children

In schools, teachers and administrators may choose to implement various disciplinary strategies to manage student behavior. The different types of discipline can range from punitive measures, such as suspension and expulsion, to restorative measures, such as behavioral interventions and restorative justice programs. Among the different types of punitive measures, one of the most concerning and controversial is corporal punishment. 

It can be helpful to explore more about corporal punishment, how it can impact children, and alternative school discipline approaches. You can also look at several tips to support and guide your child’s behavior. 

What is corporal punishment, and do us schools allow it?

As defined by the US Department of Education, elicit corporal punishment refers to “the practice of paddling, spanking, or otherwise imposing physical punishment and physical discipline on students.” In the US, corporal punishment in public schools is either expressly allowed, with an effort to ban corporal punishment, or not explicitly prohibited in 23 states. In exclusive schools, corporal punishment is permitted in all but two states.

A potentially crucial part of this context is a 1977 decision by the Supreme Court in Ingraham vs. Wright, which ruled that corporal punishment did not violate the Constitution’s Eighth Amendment protection against cruel and unusual punishment. 

However, many experts, global institutions, and other countries strongly disagree with this assessment. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), “Corporal punishment is a violation of children’s rights to respect for physical integrity and human dignity, health, development, education and freedom from torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.”

Punishments in public schools: US Department of Education statistics

The US Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights conducts the Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC) to gather information about student access and school climate in public schools throughout the US. In Part 4: Corporal Punishment in Public Schools of their School Discipline Series, they report the following statistics based on data from 2017-2018: 

• Boys were four times more likely than girls to receive corporal punishment.
• Black students were 2.3 times more likely than white students to receive corporal punishment. 
• Students with disabilities comprised approximately 13.2% of the students enrolled in the US but represented 16.5% of those who received corporal punishment. 
• Most students who received corporal punishment were in the southern US, particularly Alabama, Arkansas, Mississippi, and Texas. 

How does corporal punishment in schools affect children’s behavior?

In addition to the disparities around corporal punishment by race, disability status, and gender, corporal punishment can also have a range of negative consequences. 

The researchers also note that corporal punishment can lead to severe injury and is associated with higher rates of mental health conditions, lower cognitive ability and academic achievement, and a higher risk for physical abuse. 

If you or a loved one is experiencing abuse, contact the Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233). Support is available 24/7.

If you are experiencing trauma, support is available. Please see our Get Help Now page for more resources.

The impact of corporal punishment on mental health

In addition, as the WHO notes, research has demonstrated that corporal punishment is linked to mental health impacts such as anxiety disorders, depression, and low self-esteem; damage to educational outcomes, including lower academic success; impaired cognitive and socio-emotional development; and increased acceptance and use of other forms of violence. 

Alternative forms of discipline in schools

Given the harmful effects of corporal punishment in schools, even if your state or school districts have not banned corporal punishment, it can be crucial to explore alternative methods for handling disciplinary issues in educational settings. Included below are a few alternatives. 

School-wide behavioral initiatives

School-wide initiatives such as Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) have gained significant traction and support as an effective way to support students’ behavior and overall well-being. These initiatives are an alternative for those who don’t want to experience school corporal punishment impacts in their communities.

PBIS is an evidence-based approach to teaching behavioral expectations and supporting students, and it involves tiered levels of support in efforts to improve outcomes throughout the entire school. 

Restorative justice programs

Restorative justice programs focus on building community and creating solutions for everyone involved after unwanted behaviors occur. Restorative justice can include various practices to cultivate community, such as “classroom circles” or “peace circles” that aim to create a school and classroom community built upon kindness. 

Behavior management

One of the lessons young children often learn in their first few years of school is how to be around people who aren’t their family members. Classroom behavior management teaches clear and consistent behavioral expectations and consequences, promoting a stronger connection and relationship between students, educators, and peers. 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes, “When teachers provide clear and consistent expectations for behavior in the classroom and take actions to promote positive, pro-social behaviors, students report a stronger sense of connectedness to school and their peers.” 

Violence prevention programs

Preventing school violence often starts with creating an educational culture by correcting misbehavior in healthy, productive ways while teaching appropriate behavior and the coping skills necessary to manage challenging situations. 

Effective violence prevention programs often include the following: 

• Clear behavioral expectations and guidelines with consistent, incremental consequences
• Programming centering on student self-esteem and success
• Educators seeking student input on disciplinary rules
• Developing a systematic approach for prevention, intervention, and resolution with all staff trained in procedures
• Enforcing the school rules consistently, with fairness and a calm, patient attitude
• Providing realistic opportunities for all students to succeed
• Classroom monitoring that prevents off-task behavior and disruptions while providing additional help for any students who may be having trouble and occupying those who finish early

Tips to offer your children discipline and guidance

Parents may want to help their children understand discipline and positive behavior well before they are old enough for school. Below are a few tips to help you explore the topics of rules and discipline with your child while providing parental guidance and support. 

Explain the importance of rules

Some young children may struggle against the flood of new rules in school because it may seem overwhelming or unfair. It may help to explain that even parents must follow the rules. Learning how to behave in specific situations and the importance of following the rules so everyone has the opportunity to learn is a valuable lesson you can begin teaching at home to make the school transition more manageable.

Emphasize healthy, productive habits from an early age

As a parent, you can begin building the foundation for your child’s emotional and behavioral framework early. When they start learning about behavior, you can emphasize the difference between acceptable and unacceptable actions, teaching them to hear and accept no as an answer. Realizing that they won't always get what they want when they want can be a valuable lesson that may help them adapt to changing situations.

Teach healthy conflict resolution, communication, and compromise

When your child encounters conflict, try to teach them to work through it with communication—compromising with the other person to find an acceptable middle ground that helps them work through the problem to discover a solution. 

Learn the whole situation to support your child

If you learn that your school officials or school district used corporal punishment to discipline children, try to understand the whole situation first to make an accurate and fair assessment. Not all school rules are reasonable, and some schools have zero-tolerance policies that apply severe physical punishments for any rule violation, regardless of intention, academic achievement, or circumstances.

Support options 

Discipline can be challenging for some parents, especially if behavioral problems occur at school. If you’re experiencing these challenges, connecting with a trained therapist may help. A therapist can guide you as a parent or caregiver, teaching you valuable parenting skills like communication, conflict resolution, and helpful tips for discipline to help you relate to your child as you guide and support them.

However, for some busy parents, finding the time for therapy can be challenging, given the many commitments they already have. In these cases, online therapy through a platform like BetterHelp may be a convenient option, as it can eliminate the need for a commute by allowing you to connect with a licensed therapist wherever you have internet. 

Research has also demonstrated that online therapy can be as effective as face-to-face therapy for a wide range of issues, including parenting concerns. For instance, one study examined the efficacy of an online versus face-to-face (FTF) parenting intervention for reducing child conduct problems. It concluded that “the effects of the therapist-assisted online parenting interventions for the treatment of child conduct problems were similar to an FTF intervention.”  

Beyond seeking therapy for themselves, some parents and guardians may decide that their child would benefit from online therapy to help them work through any underlying emotional concerns that may be leading to behavioral troubles. For online treatment for children ages 13 to 19, platforms like TeenCounseling may be valuable.