School Climate & Safety Collection

A Persistent Practice

Corporal Punishment in U.S. Schools
School Climate & Safety A Closer Look at Corporal Punishment in the States
Education Week releases additional state-level analysis of civil rights data on corporal punishment in schools.
Alex Harwin, September 1, 2016
1 min read
School Climate & Safety Video Consequences of Corporal Punishment: A School Paddling Victim Tells His Story
Trey Clayton was just one of the tens of thousands of students paddled in school. But, in his case, the consequences were especially harsh.
August 24, 2016
3:08
Image of a paddle.
dannikonov/Getty
School Climate & Safety Is Corporal Punishment an Option in Your State?
Twenty-nine states ban corporal punishment, but rules vary even from district to district.
EdWeek Research Center, August 23, 2016
1 min read
Trey Clayton, 19, sits on the porch of his home in Sarah, Miss. Clayton, a former student from Independence High School, suffered injuries he sustained from being paddled on March 10, 2011. He was called to the office for “mouthing off” to a teacher and a librarian and was disciplined with a paddle. The incident left Clayton - then in the eighth grade - with a broken jaw, a two-inch gash in his chin, and two missing teeth. "I was crying, all kind of stuff, because my mouth hurt. I was spitting teeth," Clayton said. "I do believe in discipline, but I believe there's certain things you can take to prevent stuff like that happening."
Trey Clayton, 19, sits on the porch of his home in Sarah, Miss. Clayton, a former student from Independence High School, suffered injuries he sustained from being paddled on March 10, 2011. He was called to the office for “mouthing off” to a teacher and a librarian and was disciplined with a paddle. The incident left Clayton - then in the eighth grade - with a broken jaw, a two-inch gash in his chin, and two missing teeth. "I was crying, all kind of stuff, because my mouth hurt. I was spitting teeth," Clayton said. "I do believe in discipline, but I believe there's certain things you can take to prevent stuff like that happening."
Yalonda M. James for Education Week
School Climate & Safety Corporal Punishment Use Found in Schools in 21 States
More than 109,000 students were paddled, swatted, or otherwise physically punished in 2013-14, an Education Week analysis finds.
Sarah D. Sparks & Alex Harwin, August 23, 2016
8 min read
Trey Clayton, 19, sits on the porch of his home in Sarah, Miss. Clayton, a former student from Independence High School, suffered injuries he sustained from being paddled on March 10, 2011. He was called to the office for “mouthing off” to a teacher and a librarian and was disciplined with a paddle. The incident left Clayton - then in the eighth grade - with a broken jaw, a two-inch gash in his chin, and two missing teeth. "I was crying, all kind of stuff, because my mouth hurt. I was spitting teeth," Clayton said. "I do believe in discipline, but I believe there's certain things you can take to prevent stuff like that happening."
Trey Clayton, 19, sits on the porch of his home in Sarah, Miss. Clayton, a former student from Independence High School, suffered injuries he sustained from being paddled on March 10, 2011. He was called to the office for “mouthing off” to a teacher and a librarian and was disciplined with a paddle. The incident left Clayton - then in the eighth grade - with a broken jaw, a two-inch gash in his chin, and two missing teeth. "I was crying, all kind of stuff, because my mouth hurt. I was spitting teeth," Clayton said. "I do believe in discipline, but I believe there's certain things you can take to prevent stuff like that happening."
Yalonda M. James for Education Week
School Climate & Safety Miss. Man's Life Upended by 8th Grade Paddling
In 2011, given the choice between a paddling and a school suspension, Trey Clayton chose the physical punishment. He's sorry he did.
Sarah D. Sparks, August 23, 2016
5 min read
School Climate & Safety School Paddling Has Deep Roots
Efforts to ban corporal punishment get pushback in communities where the practice is ingrained, but change is happening.
Sarah D. Sparks, August 23, 2016
4 min read
School & District Management Corporal Punishment: Inside the Education Week Analysis
Education Week found more than 109,000 students experienced physical discipline in 2013-14. Here's how we approached the analysis.
Sarah D. Sparks & Alex Harwin, August 23, 2016
2 min read