As a superpower, thereby always on the world’s stage — if for no other reason — is it too much to ask that we clean up our image? It is time — ancient history in other industrial nations — for us to follow the lead of Canada’s Supreme Court’s long-delayed decision to spare the rod in their schools.
While we squabble over foolishness like gay marriage, the US continues to paddle 350,000 school children in public schools each year, not counting private and religious schools, according the “Washington Post.” Thankfully, 28 states have outlawed corporeal punishment in their schools, but still too many continue the practice as a method of discipline, particularly in the Bible Belt.
A courageous — I suppose others would pin cowardly — assistant principal of a school in Mississippi resigned on the grounds:
“The idea of a big white guy hitting an 80 pound black girl because she talked back to a teacher did not sit well with me....I decided I did not get my master’s degree in education to spend my time paddling students.”
Could this be a case of failing to separate religious from secular values in fear of “spoiling the child by sparing the rod.”? If the parents wish to continue this practice at home, and by God’s Will, then so be it, but the state should keep God out of this peculiar method.