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Education Law

: Edjurist

Paddling Protection Nonsense in Indiana

By Justin Bathon

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Once in a while a proposal comes along that really riles me up. Today is one of those days.

The current Governor of Indiana is proposing (although through campaign speak) a teacher discipline clarification act or something like that. Nadine Block, the Executive Director of the Center for Effective Discipline, who sent over the tip (thanks) calls it a "paddling protection act." I think that is an apt description. From the campaign's press release:

?Students can?t learn and teachers can?t teach in classrooms where kids are disruptive. Some teachers are afraid to restore order when needed because they fear legal harassment. It?s unacceptable that a teacher would have that hesitation,? Daniels said. "Ultimately, we need parents to recognize that firm school discipline is in every child?s interest, and support teachers in doing whatever is necessary to maintain it. But for now, we need action to see that no student?s education is damaged by the bad behavior of anyone around him."

Although the campagin would never say "we want to protect teachers who hit kids" ... that seems to be the clear intention given the history in Indiana. As a former teacher of teachers in Indiana, this law seems wildly out of touch. The teachers, the vast majority of them anyway, don't want to hit the kids in the name of discipline. Frankly, good teachers don't need to resort to that.

I am all for clarifying the laws surrounding teacher discipline ... I would agree there is a moderate level of confusion about what is acceptable. But, here is a wild idea, how about we actually teach the teachers what is acceptable? You know, like actually tell them what they can and can't do? I know that sounds mildly insane compared to a more reasonable measure like a paddling protection act, but in these trying times ...

C'mon. Days like this make me glad I left Indiana.

Full post as published by Edjurist on August 12, 2008 (boomark / email).