1. BAN ON SPANKING: Corporal punishment has been banned in all schools in Goa. This is the second Indian state to do so to my knowledge. Delhi is the other. The Goa Children's Bill, 2003, which seeks to achieve that and other objectives with regard to children's welfare was passed by Goa Assembly on Wednesday.

[Note from Bob -- that was Wednesday, April 30th, International SpankOut/NoHitting Day!]

2. An update on Pennsylvania: After the PA State Board of Education unanimously passed a new regulation banning school cp in that state, all action to implement the ban ground to a halt. First the excuses were, "We have an election in November, we'll wait for that." Then the excuses were, "We have a new Governor, some new legislators, and a new Education Secretary. We'll wait until they get up to speed."

Now, 10 months after passage, this new regulation has not yet moved. In a call yesterday to the legislative liaison of the Education Secretary Vicki Phillips, who was out for the day, the response was, "Corporal punishment? Regulation? Let me call you back after lunch." At 5 pm, the answer was that the regulation is sitting in the office of the General Counsel, part of the Governor's staff, where it must be approved for legal form. "There is to be a meeting about it next week." It was explained that there was no conscious decision to hold up the process. Once it is approved there, it continues on a torturous labyrinth of processes that even the legislative liaison person said had to be explained twice to him. We are still months away there.

My suggestion for PA residents: call the Governor's office and ask why 10 months have elapsed with no action, and how soon you can expect to see this needed regulation in place. Do the same to the Education Secretary. Governor Edward Rendell: 717-787-2500. You can find a form to e-mail him at this web page: http://www.state.pa.us/governor/cwp/view.asp?a=3&q=432792&governorNav. Education Secretary Vicki Phillips: 717-787-5820.

Calls and e-mails are truly most effective at this point if only done by PA residents. I'll let the rest of you know if and when we need your calls and e-mails. I'm doing Philadelphia NPR radio at noon on Monday, and will urge listeners to do the same.

Bob

__________________________________________
Robert E. Fathman, Ph.D., President
National Coalition to Abolish Corporal Punishment in Schools
Dublin, Ohio 43017
U.S.A. http://www.stophitting.com/disatschool