A male Vice Principal took a paddle to 15 year old Taylor Santos’ backside after it was discovered that she let a classmate copy her homework. In an effort to show remorse for her actions, Taylor voluntarily submitted to a paddling instead of attending 2 days of in school suspension. The paddling practice is common in this particular Texas School District, though students are required to call their parents to get approval for this type of punishment.

The principal is said to have left marks due to the force he allegedly used while swatting at the child. Taylor’s parents was mortified having assumed that a female administrator would be doling out the licks. The school is not admitting to any wrong doing and at this time they are considering doing away with the ‘same-sex’ spanking rule. More prevalent in the Midwest and South, this hands on punishment remains a legal practice in 19 states. Some consider paddling to be a form of child abuse and can’t believe that the military isn’t allowed to hit soldiers, while children are being subjected to physical punishment.

Do you think that corporal punishment would work in schools where the majority of the students are African Americans? Or do you think this type of punishment is generally most effective where the Caucasian demographic is larger?

Words By: Sid Powell
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