Pupil Punishment

The papers had
a story from Sacramento recently stating that the Assembly had passed a
bill, which has now gone to the Senate, giving teachers authority to
punish students who misbehave. One paper headed the story, "Teachers'
Use of Rod Gets Assembly OK."

The bill, No. 2299, which adds
Sec. 10853 to the Education Code, states, "The governing board of any
school district shall adopt rules and regulations authorizing teachers,
principals, and other certificated personnel to administer reasonable
corporal or other punishment to pupils when such action is deemed an
appropriate corrective measure."

Reads real nice, doesn't it? But, dear teachers, don't go flexing your muscles.

Actually
teachers have had this right all along. But it's up to the school
boards to decide how far teachers may go in defending themselves
against burly, belligerent students who terrorize and threaten to
strike them — and sometimes do. The school boards aren't saying.