 Wooden Board that's used on children |
Tulsa, OK-- Tulsa, Broken Arrow, Union and Jenks don't allow corporal punishment in schools.
That's why staff from TPS' Hawthorne Elementary are under fire for possibly spanking kids even though their parents may have OK'd it.
"If we were to determine that corporal punishment was used and the parents were not aware, then there could be the issue of whether or not criminal activity has been involved," said Gary Rudick, Chief for TPS Campus Police.
A parental stamp of approval is what's needed for an Owasso student to be spanked.
That district's one of only a few in Oklahoma still practicing corporal punishment.
"It is still an option, it's there," said David Hall, Assistant Superintendent at Owasso Public Schools.
Even more rare, administrators say, is how often it's used.
"I've been here five years and I don't recall but maybe one or two times," said Hall.
Spanking students is also on the minds of state lawmakers.
An amendment included in a Senate bill making it's way through the legislature would ban male teachers or principals from paddling female students and vise-versa.
Hall says, that hasn't been an issue for the district.
The bill that includes the corporal punishment amendment passed the state Senate. Now it needs to pass the House.