29.16%	Yes
70.83%	No

Comment: no punishment, no need for adulthood from fl by jon

Comment: Yes, as a child 40 years ago I was beaten by a principle (they called it paddling) with blood and 1 inch blisters on my butt. Dont think it didnt happen and dont and dont think a lawsuit want filed and won.Part of the selltment was to not disclose the amount the jury awarded. I guess I deserved it, I was talking in class and was warned 3 times. Talk about teachers and staff backpeddleing on the issue at the time and everyone (staff) chose to look the other way. Yes it was in Escambia County by the way. Its still abuse. from Pensacola,FL by Flower

Comment: If a government worker lays a hand on my kids where it is not self defense, then it will not end well for the government worker. from Cantonment, Fl. by Jeff

Comment: Without punishment, we become a lawless society. You need the threat of punishment to deter misbehavior. from Cantonment by Tom

Comment: Right now as it is the students not the teachers or administrators are runing the schools, these students have no fear at all of anything. The teachers and the administrators can use this a tool to help them regain control. Parents must sign off on this...students must know that there are actions for their misdeeds... from pensacola by Jim

Comment: If I cant strike my child.. why should a stranger be able to! from Gulf Shores Al. by Rachel

Comment: I believe that this is a school issue, not a federal government issue. We are suppose to be a democracy, not a socialist society. Let local people decide not the federal government. from Laurel Hill/Florida by Carl

Comment: Corporal punishment is violence by an adult towards a minor. Violence simply teaches violence. Some lesson! from Crestview, FL by Kymberly

Comment: I believe in spankings but I as the parent should be the only one doing the paddling. from Navarre, FL by Debbie

Comment: Absolutely not, a good paddling never hurt anyone. The students need to know who is in authority. This does not mean I believe in beatings but just a paddling will do. Today the kids are running the schools. I am retired from the school system and I saw this first hand. from Pensacola, FL by Marilyn

Comment: Corporal punishment is a form of violence. How can we effectively teach children not to respond to conflict with violence if we use violence in the school setting for discipline? from Pensacola, Florida by Rick

Comment: I have no problem with kids getting the "paddle." NYS IS NOT Florida. from Milton by C

Comment: Corporal punishment is useful to keep children in line as long as there is a witness and is not abused. When I went to school, my school used corporal punishment and the fear of punishment kept me in line. from Pensacola Fl by Olin

Comment: if you had more you wouldn't, have so much trouble they are there to learn not act up like they do. from pensacola,fl. by billy

Comment: Paddling should not be banned in school. It should be available if needed, after all other options have been used and failed on a per student basis. Parents should be called, and their approval given before paddlings are given. As with education, punishment, varies with each child. Some learn visual, hand-on, etc. Some children respond to punishment differently through time-out, lecture, loss of privileges, etc. Also, Paddling is not a beating as McCarthy claims, if it is done out of love, when not in anger and a couple of swats on the bottom, with a witness present to verify no abuse was committed. from Molino by D

Comment: The issue is if parents can teach their children politeness,and show respect to teachers, there would be no reason for corporal punishment. from Destin by William

Comment: i think we give students too many choices of discipline and its not working - my children lived through lite corporal punishment and that is what the schools do from pensacola/fl by rose

Comment: If the students don't have consequences for their actions,they may end up in prison. I believe that a little smack on the butt want hurt anyone. Teachers have a hard time getting students to obey them. I don't know of any nonphysical method that will work with the students that are the trouble students. from pensacola, fl by emily

Comment: sometimes, this is the only way to get through some kids...based upon past history...it sure did seem like it worked in the past...why not now? in other school districts around the world...do they use it and does it work? from p'cola fl by h

Comment: Most children don't get any discipline at home. They should not be allowed to creat disruptions in the classroom, or get away with outrageous behavior. from Pensacola by James

Comment: No, although I was not a product of public elementary education. I do believe what should be banned is 'over-protective/reactive parents'. If these parents "know" what is best for their child, why the heck aren't they themselves educators? Simple: they can't handle it. So, leave the educating to the professionals who've chosen to try and better society for everyone. I remember when I got the belt from my father (when rightfully deserved). I am no worse for wear, because of 'corporal punishment'. Maybe if we had a little more of it in schools, we wouldn't have so much disciplinary troubles in our prison system today. Or for that matter, in any other microcosm of our society (i.e., our military forces). I can go on and on, but what would be the purpose? from Mary Esther, FL. by Tom

Comment: NO...those days are so prehistoric. Parents need to be involved with the children teaching values and respect, helping them with their school work and involving God in their lives. The minute other people take over raising your children is the day you fail being a parent! from Pensacola by John

Comment: No. Of course, there is a limit. I expect and assume that the school board and principals have guidelines for any use of corporal punishment. In my view, many of today's students have no discipline anywhere in their lives. to hear the word 'no' is unacceptable. At some point in life, a person has got to learn to be considerate and respectful for others. In the classroom, we expect our teachers to teach. They need to be empowered to do whatever is necessary, within guidelines, to keep order and attention - in order to complete their primary mission. from Pensacola / FL by Rick

Comment: I work in retail. I see children telling parents what to do. They are not being taught at home or out in public, about respect for others or how to behave in public places. So your only other sorce is your schools. Children need a consequence that they will take serious. Expulsion or time out don't work for all children. from Florida by Renee

Comment: During my public school years, paddling or the threat of paddling kept my school safe from bullying and other such threats from Pensacola by Pete

Comment: I graduated in 2002 from a school that did. I think most students would behave better and respect their teachers if they new they could get spanked. from pensacola,fl by matt

Comment: Prov 22:15 Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him. God knows better than McCarthy! Ignore his law and PAY the price. from Pensacola, FL by Bill

Comment: I think they should keep it in the schools. Look what kids are doing now days they growing up robbing and stealing and killing. I understand that taking it away would make kids more worse than what they are. Yes I got paddled when I was in school and it did help me understand.........lol. Now days kids want to call the police on their own parents if they are in trouble at home. Take away the paddling like I said it will increase the crimes in the local area and statewide and world wide. Leave the paddling so it would teach the kids a lesson. from pensacola florida by dexter

Comment: Of course he should not be banned. A person's rank or even an off-the-wall name should not be a factor in determing a person's right to a public education. from Molino, Florida by Ronnie

Comment: Most children will never need corporal punishment but sometimes when used properly it is the punishment needed for children when other levels of punishment have not worked. Paddling is not beating or abusing a child. Paddling should not be an out of control release of anger. from Pensacola, Fl by Susan

Comment: I believe corporal punishment should be allowed, but with parent consent. The problem with our younger generation is the lack of discipline and leadership. from crestview/fl by Eddie

Comment: when I was in school and you got sent to the office they would offer you three licks, three days or three pages.And we didn't need to have police offericers in our school. We knew right from wrong. There were even students who would come to school from the deer woods and leave thier shotguns in their trucks and no one even thought anything of it.Try that today. from valp/ fla by robert

Comment: This is a very bad joke. No one should be allowed to spank a child. This teaches children that the bigger person always wins. I would never want any of my grandchildren to spanked by anyone, much less someone that is not even related to them. I know spankings dont work, because they did not work with me. This is a terrible idea. from pensacola,fla by pamela

Comment: With lawsuits and the threat of lawsuits, corporal punishment has basically been done away with in schools. The lack of discipline in our schools is bringing our education system down. Time out and in school suspension is a joke to most of the kids that need discipline. If parents don't want corporate punishmenbt they should be required by law to come to the school and administer the proper punishment to their child. In schools, "One bad appple can ruin the whole bunch." from Milton, fl by T.

Comment: Disruptive students keep the other students from learning. If they get by with just a slap on the hand or suspension they just do it again, they don't learn a thing that way. If you misbahave you will be punished and paddling will get the message through to them. I do not believe the government should intervene, this should be dealt with by the schools. from Bay Minette, AL by Phill

Comment: Absolutely not. When I was in school it was allowed and children respected the teachers and staff. Now, the students know they will not be punished and take advantage of that fact. Discipline, never hurts...and it also makes a better person who has been raised with it. from Pensacola, FL by Mary

Comment: Spare the rod spoil the child....... spanking is not beating. from Cantonment, Fl by Janice

Comment: Yes I believe it should be banned. The HRS will not let you use corporal punishment as a way to discipline your children in your own home so why should the schools be allowed to use it. Putting the job back in the parents hands requires letting them discipline the children in a way that gives the parents back some control. I DON'T condone abusing children in anyway, but children raised knowing there is a spanking awaiting them if they misbehave , are children who behave. And they behave in school, public etc. from Georgiana, Al by Theresa

Comment: We were bent over a desk & hit with a paddel if we were bad in class,and sure did want our parents to know because we would get it again when we got home. that was in the 50's & 60;s. from Pensacola Florida by Tom

Comment: The inflicting of physical pain does not accomplishing any lasting correction. The child only learns that- if caught- he or she will have pain inflicted. It is better to instill a desire to behave properly. I know it is easier to use pain to acheive short term change, but why should a child be treated like a sub human item of property. If I used my size and strength to correct an adult, I would be guilty of assualt and battery. Furthermore, no one would condone a police officer paddling someone found breaking a law or the courts ordering caneing as a sentence. I know it is harder to control behavior without corporal punishment but in the long run other means will accomplish lasting self motivated proper beaviour. from Pace, Florida by Marlin

Comment: A little shocked at the current results, and a little shocked that 20 states still use the paddle. In my opinion corporal punishment should be left in the hands of the parents. If a child continues to display disruptive behavior suspend or expell the child. Do not put a school in the position of getting sued or have an angry parent show and make a scene. When my child was in grades 1-12, I would always go to the schools and talk with the administrators. I would inform them to please contact me, if my child acted a "fool". Never contacted reference my child acting a fool. from Navarre/Fl by HB

Comment: NO! Thats whats wrong now. We need corporal punishment. We are raising a nation of weakling's, wimps and crybaby parents. from Pensacola by Wendy

Comment: With the parents consent, corporal punishment should be allowed. from Pensacola, FLA by Endyr

Comment: Having been paddled in school for breaking rules, I see no problem with it. The state of school problems now suggest that more discipline is needed. from Destin,Fl. by Bryant

Comment: The threat of paddling kept me and others "in line" at school. It was rarely administered because the threat was real. Most students today do not respect teachers, therefore, with parents approval paddling should be used when all else fails. from Pensacola by Dave

Comment: I was a much more behaved student knowing in the back of my mind that I could be taken into the hallway and given a good 3 whacks. I got at least 6 paddlings from 2nd - 7th grade. It kept me inline. However, I do believe that a form should be mailed to the parents stating the behavioral problem, the corrective action taken (paddling), and require it be returned signed. Teachers, keep paddling!!

Comment: We all ready have problems with unruly children. Parents do not take time to discipline their children. Teachers can not teach if the children are unruly it would take away from their education or the education of the children that want to learn. from Pensacola Fl by Lydia

Comment: The jails are full of kids that had no home training and no butt whoppings in school. This last generation that we raised on these new rules are the same bunch that have our jail filled to capacity They have no respect and would soon kill you as to look at you I say to all tell everybody including the schools that they can't whoop there kids and we will have to build bigger jails and buy more guns Somebody needs to tell this congresswoman to get out of her office and visit the real world that the working man/woman have to live in and she would change her mind from Cantonment by George

Comment: Paddling, Yes. Beating, No. Our children do not get the proper punishment at home. Maybe a little strictness in school will help. A child should never be beaten, but a sharp whack on the butt at the proper time is quite useful. from Pensacola, Fl. by Frank

Comment: These schools do not know what our children are going through in their home life nor do we know what some of these administrators have going on in their personal lives. Due to the different religion, ethnic, and economic, and psychological backgrounds between all parents, students, and administrators, let our parents handle the disciplining of their child. If they can not handle it then it is up to the administrator, parents, school district authorities, and Juvenile courts to take correct actions. from Pensacola, Fl by Dora

Comment: No, because back when I went to school, there were consequences for your actions that involved paddling, not a few days at the house to watch tv, so there were not nearly the problems that we have in today's school system. I go with what the Bible says "spare the rod, spoil the child". I hardly think that a few licks with a paddle damage the child. from gulf breeze by anonymous

Comment: SOMETIME THE TEACHERS TAKE IT TOO FOR WITH CORPORAL PUNISHMENT AND END UP HURTING THE KIDS. from PENSACOLA,FLORIDA by PATRICIA

Comment: It was illegal in the schol I went to and that was 50 years ago. I was shocked when I moved here in 1977 and found out they had corporal punishment in these schools. from Pensacola, FL by Greg

Comment: it should be regulated but not banned, thats whats wrong with kids today no disipline no respect from milton/fl by melita