Spanking Has Hit Bottom In Polk Schools

LAKELAND | You may not have known it, but until Tuesday some Polk County elementary school principals were allowed to spank students.

Now, that's ended.

Corporal punishment, once accepted throughout the district, is out as one of several changes to the district's code of conduct approved by the School Board. Other changes include stronger rules against bullying, allowing students to make up work for unexcused absences, and immediately contacting parents when law enforcement officials wish to interview students.

The new code of conduct was written after a report issued by the Urban Special Education Leadership Collaborative in May 2007 said that the district's discipline code required "significant revision" and "contributed to a punitive learning environment."

School Board members passed the new code of conduct 5-1. Board member Lori Cunningham was absent.

Board member Tim Harris voted against the new code, saying schools should be allowed to administer corporal punishment if parents request it.

"Spare the rod, spoil the child," Harris said, paraphrasing the Bible during a work-session meeting.

It's unclear how many Florida school districts still allow spanking, Polk school officials said.

Corporal punishment was already nearly dead in Polk County.

Only about 14 parents in three elementary schools chose to have their children spanked, said Bruce Tonjes, associate superintendent of school-based operations.

A signed form by parents allowed principals to administer spankings if the child misbehaved.

Eagle Lake's Pinewood Principal Brenda Johnson said she spanked about two students a month.

Johnson used something similar to a pingpong paddle when she spanked students in her office. She delivered one to three swats each time she spanked a child.

"It gets them on the straight and narrow," Johnson said. "Parents have thanked me quite often."

In addition to Pinewood, Janie Howard Wilson Elementary in Lake Wales and Eastside Elementary in Haines City allowed corporal punishment.

Johnson said it was a success.

"I hate to see anything that works thrown out," Johnson said. "If parents ask for it, it should be allowed."

Parents will still be allowed to discipline their own children at schools as long as it is not abusive, said Wes Bridges, School Board attorney.

"How a parent disciplines a child is up to that parent, but I also think that school administrators have control over what goes on in that school," Bridges said.

Board member Kay Fields agreed.

"If a parent is adamant about corporal punishment, they will come to the school," Fields said at the board meeting.

[ John Chambliss can be reached at john.chambliss@theledger.com or 863-802-7588. ]