Should Teachers Be Allowed to "Hit" Students?

Ooh, if I could just smack them upside the head, then they would behave. They would know I wouldn't take any nonsense....

I must admit the idea of being permitted to "hit" a student is appealing. I would be happy with just the permission to take given students by the ear lobe and lead them to appropriate behavior.

However, giving educators this much power would be asinine, inappropriate, and ineffective.

Like a bill coursing through the legislative channels on Capitol Hill with unknown issues riding on the coattails, the idea of allowing educators to "hit" students bears too many side effects.

Even though as educators we are stuck in disciplinary quagmires on an everyday basis, having the permission to strike a student contradicts our purposes as educators: to educate. We are not in the profession of education to impose rules and punish rule breakers. Our job as educators, as difficult as it can sometimes be, is to broaden the minds of our students, to provide equal opportunities to students of all backgrounds, beliefs, and values.

To even enter the realm of corporal disciplinary measures and practices opens doors to favoritism and abuse. Imagine the power to "hit" a student. How that would get out of hand (no, no pun intended!).

If one "hit" didn't bring about the desired behavior, then many educators would logically consider more "hits."

Imagine the parental reaction!

Lawsuits against schools are already crowding courts today. I would not want to deal with the irate parents whose children would be "hit." As a parent, I would be utterly frosted at such a proposal because discipline is my department. Not the school's.

Absolute power does corrupt absolutely.

I do not want that kind of power; I don't even want parental permission.

Striking a student? Can you imagine the damage to scholastic relationships among students and the teacher? We teachers would never be able to regain a student's trust after a solid slap upside the head. Not one student would be able to enjoy the love of learning in such surroundings.

Should educators be allowed to "hit" students?

Absolutely not!