Corporal Punishment Legislative And Grass Roots Strategies

Develop a list of “Hall of Shame” school districts with the largest percentage of children hit. Source: U.S. Department of Education, Office of Civil Rights, Elementary and Secondary Schools Civil Rights Survey.
Seek the endorsement of all state level organizations which have national boards endorsing bans on corporal punishment.
Seek newspaper editorial endorsements for a ban. Compile these editorials. List them on fact sheets. Give them to other media persons who are writing about the issue. A good argument: More than half the states have abolished corporal punishment. Are their teachers more capable? Are our students more disruptive?
Get testimonials for a ban by ministers, priests and rabbis.
Keep abuse reports of children injured. Remind parents to get pictures of injuries and take children to emergency rooms. Ask parents to speak to the media about these injuries.
Prepare one page fact sheet on the status of corporal punishment bans in the U.S. and home state, reasons for banning its use, alternatives to its use and contact persons/organizations for further information.
Send monthly reports to the legislature or school boards on current abuse cases, schools districts banning corporal punishment, etc.
Develop a list of quotes against the use of corporal punishment by leaders in education, mental health, religion, government, etc. Publish in newsletters and other publications.
Develop a brochure on pending legislation, a rationale for it and contact persons.
Develop a speaker’s bureau for requests by boards, teachers, etc. for speakers on alternatives. Also keep a speaker’s list for media opportunities and legislative testimony.
Develop a legislative alert system.
Always correct the media when they call paddling “spanking.” The dictionary definition of spanking is “to hit with the hand.” The term “spanking” trivializes paddling.
When you call the media have a headline ready for them i.e. “State legislature makes today a black and blue day for Kentucky children.”

Developed by: Center for Effective Discipline, Inc.