Study Shows More Disabled Kids Get Paddled

In a related story to the one we did last month about the paddling in schools debate, the New York Times yesterday came out with a story on a report by Human Rights Watch and the American Civil Liberties Union that says that a disproportionate amount of paddling occurs on disabled students then non-disabled kids. It goes on to mention last months unsuccessful attempt by the Louisiana Education Committee to ban the practice and quotes a pro-paddling principle from Bastrop.

Louisiana is one of 20 states where hitting children is still permitted. Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Wyoming are the others. The New York Times also has a good graphic depicting the states and number of incidents here.