Rep. Bonamici Introduces Bill to End Corporal Punishment
Representatives Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), Lucy McBath (D-GA), Gwen Moore (D-WI), and Frederica Wilson (D-FL) and Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT) have re-introduced a bill to ban corporal punishment in schools. The Protecting Our Students in Schools Act would ban corporal punishment in all schools that receive federal funding. The legislation also seeks to help schools foster more supportive and inclusive learning environments by promoting restorative, evidence-based approaches to enhance school safety.
Corporal punishment—which involves causing physical pain as a disciplinary method—can lead to serious injuries and long-term harm to students' physical and mental well-being. Research consistently finds that it fails to improve student behavior and is instead associated with lower academic achievement, emotional and physical harm, and a breakdown in student confidence and trust in educators. Moreover, this form of discipline is disproportionately used against boys, students of color, and people with disabilities.
The Council for Exceptional Children endorsed the bill, as it has in years past.