Download the Proclamation: Adobe Acrobat 
or MS Word 
It's time to expel the paddle in Ohio!
In Ohio, corporal punishment is banned in public schools unless local boards follow a number of procedures including a study of discipline and then vote to keep it. The use of corporal punishment in Ohio has been dropping from the mid-80's when 68,000 public school students were paddled. Only 17 public school districts reported paddling students in 2004-05 and 2005-06. It's time to add Ohio to the list of 29 states that have now banned it including nearby states of PA, WV, WI, MI, MN, and IA.
Instructions for Ohio Residents wishing to sign this Proclamation:
Please send an email to info@stophitting.org saying that you wish to sign the proclamation. We need your name and city of residence. Please let us know if you wish to identify yourself such as "educator", "social worker", "parent", "grandparent", "physician", or other listing and we will include that.
If you wish to sign on as an organization, please give the title of the organization, the name of the person signing, the position of the signer and send it on organization letterhead to the address below.
You may also send a note with this information to Center for Effective Discipline, 155 W. Main Street #1603, Columbus, OH, 43215.
Proclamation:
TO: GOVERNOR TED STRICKLAND AND ALL STATE OF OHIO LEGISLATORS
RE: BANNING SCHOOL CORPORAL PUNISHMENT
WHEREAS, school corporal punishment is the intentional infliction of bodily pain on a student as a penalty for unacceptable behavior and, in most instances, involves a teacher or administrator striking the buttocks of a student with a board; and
WHEREAS, corporal punishment sometimes leads to injuries of students, psychological and other health problems, and lawsuits against school boards; and
WHEREAS, corporal punishment is administered disproportionately to poor children, children with disabilities, minorities and boys; and
WHEREAS, corporal punishment has been demonstrated to be ineffective in the long term; and
WHEREAS, almost 50 national organizations including the American Bar Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Medical Association, the National Education Association, the National PTA, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, and the National Association of Elementary School Principals have condemned the practice; and
WHEREAS, 29 states and 109 countries have prohibited its use; and
WHEREAS, almost 600 public school districts in Ohio are successfully educating children without corporal punishment; and
WHEREAS, the best interests of Ohio children and our state as a whole will be served by banning corporal punishment and promoting more effective and safe discipline; and
NOW THEREFORE, we join other Ohio organizations opposing school corporal punishment and we call on the Ohio Legislature to ban school corporal punishment and to support positive discipline programs and training.
You can download the proclamation for printing or faxing in Adobe Acrobat or MS Word
Thank you for helping to make Ohio safer and more peaceful for children!
Endorsements for the Proclamation to Ban Corporal Punishment in Ohio
Organizations:
Abuse Prevention Fund of Fairfield County
ACTION OH-Coalition for Battered Women, Columbus
American Academy of Pediatrics - Ohio Chapter
American School Health Association, Kent
Catholic Diocese of Columbus Department of Education
Catholic Social Services, Columbus
Center for Effective Discipline, Columbus
Children’s Defense Fund-Ohio
CTV Media, Columbus OH
Directions for Youth and Families, Columbus
Family Achievement Clinic, Cleveland
International Phoenix Group, Group Homes
Jewish Family Services, Columbus
League of Women Voters of Ohio
Legacy for Children Foundation, Columbus
Mental Health of America at Franklin County
National Coalition to Abolish Corporal Punishment in Schools, Dublin
National Youth Advocate Program
Northland Child Care, Inc. Cleveland
Ohio Association of Child Caring Agencies
Ohio Association of School Nurses
Ohio CASA/GAL Association, Columbus
Ohio Children’s Foundation, Columbus
Ohio Children’s Trust Fund
Ohio Coalition for the Education of Children with Disabilities
Ohio Conference NAACP
Ohio Psychological Association
Ohio PTA
Ohio School Psychologists Association
Ohio School Social Workers Association
Ohio State Medical Association
Ohio Youth Advocate Program
Parenting for Peaceful Families, Solon
Partnership for Violence Free Families, Lima
Phoenix Homes, Inc., Delphos
Prevent Child Abuse Ohio
Public Children Services Association of Ohio
Quaker Heritage Center, Wilmington
Society for Prevention of Violence, Woodmere
Sylvania Children’s Center, Toledo
Syntaxis Youth Homes, Gahanna
The Buckeye Ranch, Grove City
The Ohio Domestic Violence Network
United Services for Effective Parenting, Columbus
Voices for Ohio’s Children
West Ohio Conference, the United Methodist Church
Wilmington College Peace Center, Wilmington
Yell & Tell: Stop Child Abuse Now, Holland
Educators:
Diana Frole, professor, Hilliard
Jack Conrath, Ph.D., Worthington
Nadine Block, retired school psychologist, Columbus
Gina Fathman, educator, Dublin
Dr. James Boland, professor of education, Wilmington
David Harcum, retired educator, Lancaster
Daniel Garrick, Principal, Columbus
Angela Windall, Math Department Chair/educator, Columbus
Deb Landig, physical education teacher, Columbus
Karen Scott, educator, Columbus
Jim Jones, Assistant Principal, Columbus
Donna Kade, educator, Columbus
Judith Parker, educator, Columbus
Donna Kuhn, educator, Columbus
Jill Pina, educator, Columbus
Nancy Johnson, educator, Columbus
Matt Berndt, math teacher, Columbus
Tracy Moose, Latin teacher, Columbus
Teresa Pione, Spanish teacher, Columbus
Janet Pickens, educator, Columbus
Dot Samsi, French teacher, Columbus
Alison Rolf, Italian teacher, Columbus
Danielle Robinson, Art teacher, Columbus
Chris Savage, educator, Columbus
Pamela VanArsdale, educator, Columbus
Steve Ulry, educator, Columbus
Robert Dvorak, educator, Columbus
Danielle Polemeni, educator, Columbus
Jeff Montenaro, educator, Columbus
Ruth Seggerson, educator, Columbus
Judith Ross, Art Department Chair/educator, Columbus
Margaret Griffith, educator, Columbus
Andrea Schmelzer, educator, Columbus
Jennifer Shonebarger, Guidance Counselor, Columbus
Kathleen Wiemels, educator, Columbus
Lori Aumiller, educator, Columbus
Andrea Grubich, educator, Columbus
Jackie Messerschmitt, Assistant Principal, Columbus
Kathleen Kapala, educator, Columbus
Geraldine Hatch, educator, Columbus
Andrea Pore, Director of Campus Ministry/Theology teacher, Columbus
Patricia Stephas, educator, Columbus
Mary Poretta, educator, Columbus
Molly Barrett, educator, Columbus
Karen Pfeiffer, ESL teacher, Dublin
Suzanne Emswells, Vice Principal, Columbus
Kristine Pellissier, Catechist Director, Columbus
Angela Jolliff, Inventive Specialist, Lima
Kay Fisher, retired principal , Westerville
Jamie Driscoll, Lucas County
Alicia Baron - Teacher
St. Brendan School, Hilliard
Bishop Hartley HS, Columbus
St. Frances DeSales High School, Columbus
St Andrew Parish, School of Religion, Columbus
Brian Rockhold, Superintendent, Allen Co.
Heather Nusbaum, Professional Development Coordinator, Allen Co.
John Upshaw, teacher, Lima/Allen Co.
Michelle E. Evans, High School Director, Allen Co.
Businesses:
CTV Media, Columbus OH
First intercontinental Realty Corp, George Pryor, President, New Albany
Individuals:
Mr. Robert Stevenson, Syntaxis Youth Homes Board member, Columbus
Chief Robert Taylor, Syntaxis Youth Homes President, Columbus
Michele Knox, Ph.D. Associate Professor, University of Toledo College of Medicine
Robert Fathman PhD, clinical psychologist, Dublin
Donna Dickman, Lima
Phyllis Carlson-Rheim, Columbus
Charles Reiner MD, retired pediatric pathologist and educator, Delaware
Barbara Oehlberg, Parenting for Peaceful Families, Solon
Reverend Donald L. Farrow, Westerville
Joseph C. Sommer, Columbus
Charles Felzen Johnson MD, Professor Emeritus of Pediatrics, The Ohio State University
Cindy and John McKay, Franklin County
Ann Brennan, Bexley OH
Patty Walp, Perrysburg
Vicky Naugle, Toledo
Scott Ziegler, Toledo
Tera Traver, Genoa
Jill Hass, Toledo
Karon Price, Agency Exec Director, University of Toledo Medical Center
Jami Frost, Toledo
Billi Sopey, Toledo
Denise Kidder, clinical director, U. of Toledo Medical Center, Toledo
Pamela S Crabtree, President of Yell & Tell: Stop Child Abuse Now
Lavinia King RN, Toledo
Krista Slezsak, recreational therapist, Toledo
Ann Mullins, social worker, Lucas County
Jackie McBee, Toledo
William Quiren, Toledo
Mary A Peter, social worker, Toledo
K. Kleim, Toledo
Heidi Olszewski, clinical supervisor, U. Toledo Medical Center
Kimberly Hunter, PhD, Kobacker Center, Toledo
Kathleen Jennings, Toledo
J. Lentini, Toledo
Sally Pedon, social worker/child advocate, Columbus
Richard Baron - Assistant Professor, U. of Toledo
Janet Pietrowski - Postdoctoral Fellow, U. of Toledo
Becky Heidelberg - Parent, Toledo
Karen DiPofi - Parent., Toledo
Patricia Bair - Social Worker, Toledo
Brent Schneider - Parent, Toledo
Ginny York - parent, Toledo
Peg Calestro, Community Volunteer, Columbus
Blake Hutchison, Sanseveiria Films, West Mansfield, Logan County
Robyn Morris, MSW, LISW, Columbus
Margaret Burley, Executive Director OCECD, Marion Ohio
Blake Hutchison, Sanseveiria Films, West Mansfield, Logan County
Robyn Morris, MSW, LISW, Columbus
Steve Votaw, CEO Directions for Youth and Families
Peggy Wyman, Exec. Director, Ohio Assn of Childcaring Agencies
Layton Gellen, Groveport
Beth Dubberley, Franklin County
John Dubberley, Franklin County
Peg Hollenback, Delaware
Jennifer E. Jennings, Johnstown
Gwendolyn Sturgill, Franklin County
Nancy C. Whitt, Franklin County
Madelan K. Polnar, Columbus
Jessica Gordon, Columbus
Sue M. Rurry, Columbus
Tony Gugliemotto, Dublin
Joe Harcum, West Chester
Joseph Aran, Dublin
Donald L Burton, DVM, Columbus
Dorothy Kane, Austintown, Mahoning County
Jackie Loescher, Lima OH
Dr. Stepphen Potthoff, Wilmington
Stephen Spence, Wilmington
Reverend Martha Hinshaw Shelda, Campus Minister, Wilmington College
Ruth Dobyns, Curator Quaker Heritage Center, Wilmington
Dr. Sylvia Rimm, Cleveland
Rita L. Soronen, Exec Director, Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption
Sue Benner, Graytown
Gus Comstock, former Chillicothe School District Board Vice President
Beverly John Driver, Allen County
Jeffrey Wahl, Auglaize County
Kitt Horn, Auglaize County
Heidi Pence, Allen County
Heather Nusbaum, Allen County
Evelyn Smith, Allen County
Kelly Spencer, student teacher, Clinton Co.
Amanda Jones, student teacher, Greene Co.
Emily Rhoads, student teacher, Highland Co.
A. Duncan, student teacher, Clermont Co.
Tiffany Taylor, student teacher, Clermont Co.
Christin Morris, student teacher/parent, Clinton Co.
Elizabeth Pale, student teacher, Champaign Co.
Carissa Harvey, student teacher, Clinton Co.
Terry Miller, teacher/administrator, Clinton Co.
Gloria P. Flaherty, Professor, Grandparent, Greene Co.
Marcetta Shurells, parent, Lima/Allen Co.
Kari Richetto, parent, Auglaize Co.
Jennifer L. Singer, Lima/Allen Co.
Diane Gable, Parent/Social Worker, Allen Co.
David L. Rosebrock, Allen Co.
Jacqueline Fox, Lima/Allen Co.
Alisha Harper, Lima/Allen Co.
Emily Wrencher, Lima,/Allen Co.
Jennifer Lawson, Allen Co.
Lynn Sametz, Ada,/Harden Co.
Diane Gable, Lima/Allen Co.
Jeanne B. Funk, Lucas Co.
Angela Finnirty, parent, Lima/Allen Co.
Bruce C. Macey, Allen Co.
Vickie Fowler, Lima/Allen Co.
Kristen Miller, Delphos/Van Wert Co.
Joyce Pohlabel, Lima/Allen Co.
Melissa Edelbrock, Van Wert Co.
Cathy Stanford, Lima, Allen Co.
Phyllis Montrose, Allen Co.
Stacia Schmenk, Putnam Co.
Susan Poppe, Wapakoneta/Auglaize Co.