Corpun file at www. The article sparked an enduring debate in the classroom over the practice of spanking or paddling and how effective it was. The debate has recently served as the catalyst for several students to take the matter into their own hands. With the help of teacher Lynne McIntosh and the district's supervisor of curriculum and instruction, Dr.
Joseph L. Crossen, the students have begun a letter-writing campaign to their state representatives and senators. Delaware Code states that a teacher or administrator may punish a student just as a "parent, custodian, guardian or other person similarly responsible for the care and supervision of the student.
The students say there are plenty of other ways to discipline a child rather than resorting to physical punishment. The students, who run a day-care center at Polytech, said the nonviolent approach to discipline may take a little longer, but it can work better in teaching lessons. Junior Tracy Lamb, 16, recalled when she was in first grade.
There was a boy in the class who could never seem to stay out of trouble. To handle the child, her teacher would spank him in the back of the classroom. Several of the students had similar stories of fear regarding friends, classmates or themselves being paddled. David P. Sokola, D-Newark, introduced legislation in the Delaware General Assembly Wednesday that would effectively outlaw corporal punishment in the state's public schools. Two years ago, Sen. Sokola introduced similar legislation that passed the Senate, but never made it out of committee in the House.
He said he does not have a gauge on support in the House, but he figures the measure will at least come to a vote this year. Sokola said 28 states have already abolished the practice, while legislatures in Colorado, Pennsylvania and Wyoming have had bills proposed this year.
