A Texas lawmaker hopes to put an end to the use of corporal punishment in public schools.
Texas is one of 20 states that still allows paddling in schools and State Rep. Alma Allen of Houston has introduced a bill that would end the form of punishment.
The Anti-Paddling bill, HB 916, is currently in committee. The bill defines corporal punishment as "hitting, spanking, paddling, or deliberately inflicting physical pain by any means on the whole or
any part of a student ’s body as a penalty or punishment for the student ’s behavior on or off campus." (Read the entire bill here)
If passed, the act would not allow school officials or volunteers to administer the punishment to a student. The bill needs two-thirds of a vote to pass. If successful, it would go into effect Sept. 1, 2011.
Even though it's currently approved by the state, the Dallas, Fort Worth and Arlington independent school districts already have policies against corporal punishment.
