Breaking the Paddle

Book excerpt: "Bend over and take your whacks," is heard each day by over l,000 school children in the United States. Almost half of US states permit educators to hit children with contoured boards called "paddles" for breaking school rules. Sometimes children are hit without parent permission and sometimes against parents' wishes. Paddling can lead to injuries requiring medical treatment including bleeding, bruises and even broken bones. Over l00 countries have banned school corporal punishment. In Breaking the Paddle: Ending School Corporal Punishment, Nadine Block sheds light on this dark side of American education and refutes arguments used to support its use. Block tells parents how to protect their children from this archaic discipline and gives specific recommendations for how to end it for all US school children. This important book should be read by parents, educators, physicians, mental health professionals, child abuse prevention professionals, school board members, legislators, and all persons who promote the optimum development of children and seek to protect their right to be free from physical harm.