Corporal punishment in our schools is a cruel violation of a child's basic human rights. Our educators should not be inflicting physical pain on our children, often leaving them with nasty bruises and welts. It is also a violation of civil rights -- it is subjectively applied, with African-American and Latino children disproportionally administered this punishment.
The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry is one of many groups that oppose the use of corporal punishment in schools, saying it "signals to the child that a way to settle interpersonal conflicts is to use physical force and inflict pain... They may also fail to develop trusting, secure relationships with adults."
Teachers and administrators should use non-violent methods to control students.