Corporal Punishment Policies in Catholic Schools

In an on-going effort to chart prevalence of corporal punishment of children in the U.S., the Center for Effective Discipline (CED) collects and reviews corporal punishment regulations and policies of schools, child care, foster care, and residential care of children.

The Center for Effective Discipline has completed a survey of corporal punishment policies of Catholic dioceses in the continental U.S. and Hawaii . Results indicate that corporal punishment is not used or is prohibited by specific bans in all U.S. Diocesan Catholic Schools.

Method of Study:

Surveys on corporal punishment policies were sent to education offices of 174 Catholic dioceses in April, 2005. The letters were addressed to diocesan school superintendents who were asked to check responses about policies on corporal punishment and to return the survey by May 15, 2005. Subsequently, there were attempts by CED staff to reach non-responders by email and then by telephone. Forty two non-responders were contacted by parents between August 2005 and March 2006. These 42 diocesan schools offices verified that corporal punishment is not being used or is specifically banned in those diocesan schools.

Findings:

Of the 174 dioceses surveyed, corporal punishment is not used or is banned by official policy.

Note: In some dioceses there are schools which are identified as "Catholic" which are independent of diocesan systems. They have not been surveyed. It is always wise for parents to check on the corporal punishment policy with the diocesan superintendent's office before enrolling a student as school board and administrative policies are subject to change.
If you are aware of any Catholic schools where corporal punishment is currently being used, please contact the author of this study: Nadine Block at nblock@infinet.com

From the US Council of Catholic Bishops:

"The Catholic Church teaches that violence against another person in any form fails to treat that person as someone worthy of love. Instead, it treats the person as an object to be used."

From: "When I Call for Help" - statement by U.S. Councils of Catholic Bishops.