Spank him!

[Eliza Hodgkins 1812]

Originally Posted by Ghoulish Delight

But this lady never said, "I didn't know about the policy." She claims she never signed it. I'm not buying it. The spanking rule is part of the school's overall agreement, not a separate thing to sign. There's no WAY a school lets someone in without signing the agreement. And, according to administrators, they specifically mention the spanking thing and tell them that the other option is suspension. So she knew about it, and enrolled him anyway. I can't sympathize with her tears and outrage for dealing with exactly what she was told she would have to deal with.

What is baffling to me about this being made into such a big deal is that spanking was not the only option. No one's free will has been threatened. This was not a spank or die situation. If the child went too far, in the school's eyes, the parent could either spank the child or accept suspension. It's elementary school. Not high school. So why not accept the suspension in lieu of the spanking, and have a discussion with your kid about why he's gotten into so much trouble. Treat the suspension like a severe grounding. It's not going on his permanent record.

Suspension or spanking. They're giving the parents a choice, yes? Am I just completely misunderstanding that part of the article?

I don't have a problem with a parent ocassionally spanking a child. But if I were a parent, I wouldn't sign up with a school that gave me those kinds of options. We might disagree with what kind of behavior merits what kind of discipline, and it's a battle I wouldn't feel like fighting. I'd rather go to a place that encourages parent/teacher conferences in which both parties can discuss what disciplinary measures need to be taken. I work in a program for juveniles who have gotten into some serious trouble, and part of the difficulty in working with them is that they're forced to accept rigid rules here and then they go home where it's a free for all. It's confusing and inconstant. To some degree it's necessary to keep rules at home and rules at school consistent. An almost impossible task. Obviously this school has tried to come up with a system that allows them to have more of a say in how discipline is dished out. They have a right to do that. And a parent has a right to say, "I'm sorry, I won't be signing any such nonsense." Or, taking a risk, signing it, and then down the line saying, "Uh, I signed it, but screw it. We're out of here. I don't agree with suspending a kid, and I don't agree with spanking. So, latah!"

This isn't a public school. This options were not forced down her throat.

I think the school is in the right here in terms of the actions they took. And she is, of course, free to do what she did, which is what's obviously best for her as a parent. So she's in the right, too.

I think she liked the school. Maybe it's terrific. And so she took a chance that she'd never have to deal with the option, but her kid turns out to have other plans. So it didn't work out for her. Sorry sister. You and the kid lose. She'll find another school that's a better fit for them both, I'm sure.