Time to end the barbaric practice of corporal punishment in Kentucky schools | Opinion

With a new year comes new opportunities. As we take the time to reflect on what we can change and improve upon in the new year, it is important to resolve to finish what has been left unfinished in previous years. For the past five years, advocates across Kentucky, including myself, have fought for an end to the barbaric practice of corporal punishment in schools. It has been our goal to ensure every student, no matter their circumstances or background has a safe learning environment with healthy, trusting relationships including with their peers, teachers and administrators.

In a recent interview, Executive Director of the Kentucky Center for School Safety Jon Akers highlighted how crucial fostering these relationships is to promoting school safety. He noted students are more likely to listen to teachers when they are trusted adults. The trusted relationships we need in schools are virtually impossible to form when the threat of violence against students exists in the form of paddling. If we want students to respect and trust adults, hitting them under any circumstances is unequivocally the wrong answer.

Corporal punishment of any student is inappropriate, but its disproportionate use on students with disabilities is simply unconscionable. According to the Kentucky Department of Education, in the 2019-2020 school year, 46% of instances of corporal punishment involved students with disabilities. Yes, you read that correctly. Out of the 142 instances of corporal punishment that school year, almost half involved an adult hitting a child with a disability.

More: Kentucky legislature kicks off 2022 session with plan to redraw congressional districts

In one Kentucky school district, the use of corporal punishment increased by over a hundred instances in the 2018-2019 school year. When I called the superintendent looking for answers, she insisted she knew nothing about corporal punishment in their schools. The next day she called back with an attorney saying those numbers were in fact correct and their two new assistant principals had been paddling kids at will.

The disheartening data and anecdotes speak for themselves.

After many hours of research, countless phone calls, dozens of meetings with legislators and testimony before legislative committees, the bill to ban corporal punishment in schools finally passed in the Kentucky House of Representatives in 2020, with the skilled leadership of Reps. Steve Riley and Lisa Willner, Sen. Julie Raque Adams and a plethora of other notable lawmakers on both sides of the aisle. As expected, the legislation was met with little opposition when it came to a vote.

But it turns out, some politicians oppose this effort for purely political reasons, but don’t want to go on record saying they approve of hitting children with wooden paddles. This opposition has led to political games preventing the final passage of this legislation in the State Senate.

You may like: Proposed Kentucky law would give superintendents the final say over school principals

This year, the Kentucky Board of Education passed an administrative regulation, which will limit the use of corporal punishment in schools. The regulation includes measures such as required counseling for students that receive corporal punishment and a prohibition of the method on students with Individualized Educational Plans. The regulation is welcome news, and I am grateful Commissioner Glass and the entire board listened to our advocacy, but it is not enough. The regulation must serve as a call to action for the legislature to fully ban the archaic practice in all circumstances.

As the legislature gavels in this session, our lawmakers have a responsibility to put aside any political excuses used in the past and finally end the paddling of students. This action is long overdue. You can aid our advocacy efforts by leaving a message for your legislator at 1-800-372-7181 and asking them to support a ban on corporal punishment in schools. Let’s all resolve to create safer and healthier schools. Kentucky students deserve nothing less.

Alex Young
Alex Young

Alex Young, a senior at Saint Xavier High School, has led the bipartisan effort in the Kentucky General Assembly to end the use of corporal punishment in schools. Alex also advocated in support of the Tobacco Free Youth Act, which raised the minimum tobacco product purchase age to 21. In addition to his advocacy, he has assumed leadership roles at Saint Xavier in the school's service club, student Y chapter, and student advisory panel. He helped lead the Kentucky Youth Assembly and represented Kentucky in the United States Senate Youth Program in 2021.

Interested in submitting an op-ed or guest column?

Read tips here: How to submit a guest opinion column or op-ed to The Courier Journal

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Corporal punishment in Kentucky schools must end| Opinion