Texas High School Principal Arrested for Paddling a Student, Igniting Debate Over Corporal Punishment
A Texas high school principal, Jeffery Hogg, was arrested for paddling a student, igniting a national debate on corporal punishment.
A Texas high school principal, Jeffery Hogg, was arrested for paddling a student. (PHOTO: ThoughtCo)
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High School Principal’s Arrest Ignites Controversy Over Corporal Punishment in Texas Schools
A high school principal in East Texas, Jeffery Hogg, was arrested for paddling a student and causing her harm. This incident has sparked a national debate about whether corporal punishment should be allowed in schools. Texas is one of 17 states where hitting, spanking, paddling, or causing physical pain to discipline students is still legal in public schools, if the school district’s board of trustees permits it.
Parents can opt their children out of such punishment by notifying the district.
Due to the actions of the high school principal, Texas lawmakers have discussed banning corporal punishment, but no such policy change has been enacted so far. Daily Kos reported that education advocates and child development experts argue that it instills fear and has negative effects on students’ mental health. However, some lawmakers, particularly Republicans, support keeping it due to biblical references. Nationally, the use of corporal punishment in schools has decreased, and U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona has urged schools to replace it with evidence-based methods.
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Incident Details and Controversy: High School Principal’s Actions and the Ongoing Debate
The recent incident involved the high school principal hitting a female student three times with a wooden paddle, causing visible bruising. According to the Texas Tribune, the case is being investigated by the Rusk District Attorney’s Office while Hogg was arrested. Overton Independent School District Superintendent Larry Calhoun defended Hogg, saying he followed district policies.
Parents have also voiced their opinions, with some supporting corporal punishment, citing the Bible, and others questioning why the high school principal was arrested when the student’s parent was present during the punishment. The incident has reopened the discussion on the use of corporal punishment in schools, with calls for legislative action to address the issue in Texas.
As a parent, do you agree with physical punishment to discipline your child in school? Why or why not?
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