Kansas law already allows spanking in the classroom, so long as it doesn’t leave a mark. But if it were up to one state legislator, teachers would have power to spank children even more — and harder.
A bill proposed by state Rep. Gail Finney (D) would define corporal punishment as “up to ten forceful applications in succession of a bare, open-hand palm against the clothed buttocks of a child” and would permit “reasonable force” to restrain the children.
The legislation also allows parents, caregivers or school personnel to strike kids hard enough that “redness or bruising may occur on the tender skin of a child as a result.”
“What’s happening is there are some children that are very defiant and they’re not minding their parents, they’re not minding school personnel,” Finney said, as quoted by The Wichita Eagle.
(Photo via Shutterstock / Everett Collection)
