Roland, Oklahoma lawmaker makes headlines with Biblical corporal punishment comments

ROLAND - Oklahoma state Rep. Jim Olsen, R-Roland, does not believe the rod should be spared when it comes to corporal punishment for disabled children in some cases.

And Olsen has been the center of attention in a battle over a corporal punishment bill that involves spanking disabled children.

With verses from Proverbs, Olsen spoke out at the Oklahoma state Capitol Tuesday. Stories about his comments made national news.

As Oklahoma House Bill 1028 that would ban public schools from using corporal punishment on disabled students was presented Tuesday, Olsen quoted scripture as he opposed it on the House floor.

"He that spareth his rod hateth his son," Olsen said, quoting from a version of Proverbs 13:24. "So it tells us that if you will not use the rod on a disobedient child, you do not love that child. That's what the book said."

Oklahoma state law allows school personnel to use corporal punishment on special needs students if the parent has provided written consent.

House Bill 1028 has not advanced in Oklahoma, as it failed Tuesday by a narrow vote but could be heard Monday with another chance to pass.

Olsen says he supports corporal punishment of students with disabilities in some cases when the parents approve it.

In an interview with The Southwest Times Record, Olsen explained his position on the issue and what happened on the House floor Tuesday.

"Our present statute concerning corporal punishment for children who are disabled, present law is that it is illegal in the state of Oklahoma but the only exemption is if the parents specifically give authorization and tell the school district they want this done," Olsen said.

"So that is the exception to the general prohibition. And even then if the parents want it they may not get it because school districts can make their own policies toward corporal punishment."

The bill would have taken away the exemption and "no parent ever could authorize their child to be handled with corporal punishment when they're willfully disobeying. So I did object to the bill, partly on the basis of one of my own constituents."

He said he has a constituent who has a daughter with Asperger's Syndrome and who has high intelligence but has behavioral issues at times.

"What this man tells me is that corporal punishment is what is necessary to keep her in line," Olsen said.

He said he knows there are many cases a child, "may not have the capacity to understand directions."

"In those cases, it would be entirely inappropriate. But what I did maintain was that parents should maintain the option when the child understands what is right or wrong," Olsen said.

He quoted Proverbs Chapter 8.

"Part of that chapter says, 'By me, princes rule and kings reign,' so the thought there was that it is a good thing for legislators to look at Biblical principles as they weigh the very critical matter of making laws for people that the people are going to have to follow," Olsen said.

A child psychiatrist also debated the bill and argued corporal punishment is needed at times, Olsen said. The bill failed 45-43 in the Tuesday vote

National media picked up the story about his use of scripture, and the office telephone started blowing up, he said. The emails started coming in.

"People's reaction to it was real interesting to say the least," Olsen said. "There are a lot of people in the country who do not believe in corporal punishment at all, and I have had some interesting reactions."

"It got quite a reaction. I think it was a reaction to how I quoted scripture and the fact that I maintained that at times this is the proper thing," Olsen said.

As for his stance on the bill that will get a second chance Monday, March 20, he gave a summary of his viewpoint that supports parents making the decision in some cases.

"What we have, we've got a lot of people who want to take away that liberty away from the parents to make that decision," Olsen said. "And as with all things, you or I or someone else may not agree exactly with how a parent raises their children but in my judgment, we would certainly want to leave a lot of liberty to the parents on the details on how they raise their child and I do feel like the parent should have that liberty to judge their own child's condition, judge their own school district.

If they're comfortable with the people who might possibility might potentially be administering the corporal punishment they should have that liberty if they believe it is best for their child."

Olsen was elected in 2018 to represent Oklahoma's representative District 2 that covers Sequoyah County.

More:Lawmakers 'thought they were voting against the Bible,' author of anti-spanking bill says

This article originally appeared on Fort Smith Times Record: Oklahoma state Rep. Jim Olsen, R-Roland, talks about spankings