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CEC Endorses Legislation to End Corporal Punishment in Schools

On Thursday, Reps. Don McEachin (D-VA) and Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) and Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT) re-introduced the Protecting Our Students in Schools ActThe bill would ban corporal punishment in schools and establish enforcement mechanisms. It would also provide grants to support states and districts to improve school climate and culture through positive behavioral interventions and supports, trauma-informed care, multi-tiered system of supports, crisis de-escalation interventions, implicit bias training, culturally responsive teaching, and more.

While most states ban corporal punishment, eighteen still allowed it during the 2018-2019 school year. Studies have shown that, as with other discipline practices, students of color, males, and students with disabilities disproportionately endure corporal punishment. Upon introduction of the bill, McEachin remarked, “Corporal punishment can cause severe emotional, physical, psychological, and academic harm to students and has been proven to be an ineffective method of discipline.”

CEC joined with partners in the education, health, and abuse prevention fields to endorse this bill.

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Posted:  11 June, 2021
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