The paddle seems to be very much the preferred implement in USA schools. When did it first come into widespread use? I am particularly interested in early mentions of the school paddle in dated factual or fictional literature, and in official documents.

Have other cultures used the paddle in schools?

The former slave states are the ones most strongly associated with the continued use of the school paddle. This does not mean that slavery caused school paddling. Rather, there may be a common cause for both.

Southern violence Sheldon Hackney, The American Historical Review, Vol. 74, No. 3, Feb., 1969 pp. 906-925.

H. C. Brearley was among the first to assemble the quantitative data to support the description of the South as “that part of the United States lying below the Smith and Wesson line.”(3) He pointed out, for example, that during the five years from 1920 to 1924 the rate of homicide per 100,000 population for the southern states was a little more than two and a half times greater than for the remainder of the country. Using data from the Uniform Crime Reports concerning the 1930’s, Stuart Corder confirmed and elaborated Brearley’s findings in 1938. For this period also he found that homicide was concentrated in the southeastern states. Of the eleven former Confederate […]

http://www.jstor.org/pss/1873128
________________________________________________

Magnolias without moonlight: the American South from regional confederacy to national integration
Sheldon Hackney

The eleven ex-Confederate states continue to be thoroughly American and at the same time an exception to the national mainstream. The regions dual personality, how it came into being, and the purposes and interests it served is examined in Magnolias without Moonlight, as well as its central role in the politics and ‘culture wars’ flowing from the transformative Civil Rights Movement and the other social justice movements of the 1950s and 1960s.

http://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=RJmrQxpE6ZsC

The paddle seems to be very much the preferred implement in USA schools. When did it first come into widespread use? I am particularly interested in early mentions of the school paddle in dated factual or fictional literature, and in official documents.

Have other cultures used the paddle in schools?

An amazing discovery – political and social beliefs and background determine whether people support school CP or not

Publius, Volume 21, Issue2, Pp. 117-121.
Political Culture and Corporal Punishment in Public Schools
Sue Vandenbosch
Central Washington University South Seattle Center

In his landmark work over twenty years ago, Daniel J. Elazar published a typology grouping the states into three subcultures: moralistic, individualistic, and traditionalistic.’ Later, Ira Sharkansky quantified Elazar’s typology by assigning integers to the purely moralistic, individualistic, and traditionalistic states and also to states with hybrids of these subcultures.’ Sharkansky found a significant correlation between fifteen variables relating to voter participation, bureaucracy, government programs, and his political culture scale. The strongest correlations were found with exam success, percent voting for U.S. representative, AFDC payments, and percentage of students graduating from high school. Controlling for personal income or region reduced the strength of the correlations. Many, however, continued to be [statistically] significant. Political culture also has been shown to be related, for example, to the issue content of campaign spot announcements,’ quality of urban life,’ attitudes toward corruption in government and attitudes toward social welfare and economic issues,’ the number of women elected to state legislatures,’ and to political reform efforts.’

A Pearson’s r = 0.749 represents a strong correlation in the so-called social sciences but not in the physical sciences. The last time I calculated one I got r = 0.9999 for 500 data in a light scattering experiment involving the application of Maxwell’s equations.

I am still working towards trying to understand why the paddle became the preferred implement in US schools. The practice may have started in the South and spread. But why the paddle and not the strap or cane?

The paddle seems to be very much the preferred implement in USA schools. When did it first come into widespread use? I am particularly interested in early mentions of the school paddle in dated factual or fictional literature, and in official documents.

Have other cultures used the paddle in schools?

I posted an 1897 news item on April 20 above which alluded to an old law in Indiana. I have tried to find that law, so far without success. The law seems to have been forgotton or repealed by 1911. Or perhaps the news article was in error. It may have been a local school board regulation rather than a state law.

THE SCHOOL LAW OF INDIANA With Annotations,

The teacher may exact compliance with all reasonable commands, and enforce obedience by inflicting corporal punishment, in a kind and reasonable manner, upon a pupil for disobedience. Such punishment must be within the bounds of moderation, and apportioned to the gravity of the offense; but when complaint is made, the judgment of the teacher as to what the situation required should have weight, as in the case of a parent under similar circumstances, and the reasonableness of the punishment must be determined upon the facts of the particular case, The presumption is that the teacher did nothing more than his duty. The legitimate object of chastisement is to inflict punishment by the pain which it causes, as well as by the degradation it implies; and it does not follow that chastisement was cruel or excessive because pain was produced, or abrasions of the skin resulted from a switch used by the teacher. When a proper weapon has been used, the character of the chastisement with reference to any alleged cruelty or excess, must be determined by the nature of the offense, the age, physical and mental condition, as well as the personal attributes, of the pupil, and the deportment of the teacher. Vanactor v. State, 113 Ind. 276; Danenhoffer v. State, 79 Ind. 75. (1879)

The paddle seems to be very much the preferred implement in USA schools. When did it first come into widespread use? I am particularly interested in early mentions of the school paddle in dated factual or fictional literature, and in official documents.

Have other cultures used the paddle in schools?

Strongly against blows to the head or hands.

http://books.google.com/books?id=mQ4VAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA244

EDUCATIONAL MONTHLY. AUGUST, 1864.
CORPORAL PUNISHMENT Of what Horace Smith [poet] called the “sentimentalibus lachryma rorem” [Latin? Translation? Something to do with dew and tears?] we have not a particle. For rose-leaf government in seminaries of learning, or in organized communities, we have no admiration. Excessive punishment fails, it is true, of its effect; but in the government of pupils, humanity has frequently got the better of discretion. A stern administration of justice, through means of Dr. Birch, or Senor Rattan, we consider to be possible on rare occasions, but certainly sometimes indispensable in any well-regulated school. The stereotyped jest, that “you can not drive knowledge into a pupil’s head by means of an application at the other end,” is as unsound in fact as it is absurd in expression. Not that flogging directly stimulates the brain, but that the fear of it prevents idle pupils from wasting their time on any thing but the work in hand, or deters hardened offenders, whom milder punishments will not bring to repentance, from violations of good order. The very degradation of the lash, about which some are very eloquent, is strong in the way of restraint, and the fear of pain still more potent. All punishment brutalizes unless it be fully deserved; but there are times when it is a necessary part of the system of instruction. And gild the thing as you may; evade it by expedients; adopt the most cunningly devised, and nicely graded scheme of rewards and punishments; invent the must admirable plans to awaken the pride and develop the sense of duty in the pupil; “to this complexion must you come at last” – there are a few offences deserving of corporal punishment; and certain boys who are insensible to any appeal of honor or ambition: who are to be controlled only by fear. The remedy, in their case, is a hearty and substantial flogging.

The idea of flogging on the hand is a humane one, and the practice, theoretically, not liable to produce mischief. If the blows were struck entirely on and across the palm, nothing injurious could well ensue. The tissues there are thick, elastic, and capable of resistance. But, partly from the natural shrinkage of the little hand, and partly from an occasional nervousness on the part of the teacher, it is difficult to so graduate the blow that it will not fall partially upon the joints at the base of the fingers; and it is in a blow of precisely that character, in which the danger lies. In the case we refer to, inflammation followed, there was a “joint felon,” and, in spite of careful surgical treatment, an anchylosis [stiffness] of the finger-joint, leaving a permanent deformity.

There are occasions, we repeat, when boys must be flogged, if you would maintain discipline and good order; and we do not care how reasonably severe the flogging may be, if deserved. But switches are cheap, and nature has provided a portion of the human anatomy where the switch can be sharply applied, with impunity. With girls it would be more difficult; but a blow of any kind, need rarely, if ever, be applied to a girl. Milder punishments can be effectively used. In the case of a boy, there need be no trouble. There is a tempting prominence always ready for the purpose of the disciplinarian. The maxim of King Solomon may receive due reverence without danger to the recipient of his cherished application. But blows on the hands or head are manifestly improper; and punishment, in those few cases in which a clever teacher will find the rod to be needed, should be honored both in the breech and the observance.

The paddle seems to be very much the preferred implement in USA schools. When did it first come into widespread use? I am particularly interested in early mentions of the school paddle in dated factual or fictional literature, and in official documents.

Have other cultures used the paddle in schools?

Mansfield Daily Shield (Ohio)
March 2, 1896
http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=nV … 69,4605836
Spunky Spain Needs a severe paddling by Uncle Sam

By Associated Press.

Washington, Mar. 2. At a special meeting of the cabinet held last night, under the guise of a dinner at the residence of Secretary Olney, the latter submitted a communication from the Spanish minister in Madrid to Minister [Spanish ambassador] De Leome, insisting that the United States government disavow the action of the United States senate regarding Cuba, as a condition precedent to the continued friendly relations between the two governments. This communication was surprising but the cabinet was inclined to excuse it on the ground of possible ignorance of the Spanish minister of our form of government. Another communication announced the purpose of the Spanish government, to protect Americans from outrages in Spain. Secretary Olney was directed to ignore the demand of disavowal and to return thanks for the offered protection.

The paddle seems to be very much the preferred implement in USA schools. When did it first come into widespread use? I am particularly interested in early mentions of the school paddle in dated factual or fictional literature, and in official documents.

Have other cultures used the paddle in schools?

http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Gx … 97,2287896

The Gazette Times, Dec 19, 1912. (Pittsburgh, PA)

Spanking Produces Smoke

Teacher Paddles Youngster and Trousers Start to Burn

Columbus, Ohio, Dec 18 (Special)

Too vigorous application of a paddle to the side of a boy’s trousers came near causing serious results in the public school at East Columbus. The teacher of his class had called him to the platform because of his unruliness.

The teacher did not reckon with the youngster’s pockets. Carefully stacked away in one of them were some matches and the rapid application of the paddle caused the matches to ignite. Neither the boy nor teacher knew the fire had started until the youngster smelt smoke.

Compare:http://www.network54.com/Forum/198833/m … 1306206758

The paddle seems to be very much the preferred implement in USA schools. When did it first come into widespread use? I am particularly interested in early mentions of the school paddle in dated factual or fictional literature, and in official documents.

Have other cultures used the paddle in schools?

Mansfield Daily Shield, October 31, 1901 (Ohio)

The Matches by the Teacher’s Paddle Were Ignited
A screamingly funny incident occurred yesterday at the Fifth Street school building in the forth grade. One of the pupils had been playing “hookey” for some time and turned up at school yesterday morning. His teacher had a wooden paddle ready for his coming and proceeded to correct the boy before school. The small boy before he went to school yesterday morning put a number of matches in his pistol pocket. The punishment began and soon what was thought to be dust was seen eminating from the boys trousers. The boy howled in anger and yanked the matches out of his pocket in a hurry and threw them on the floor. The school howled – and so did the boy. The boy is now able to sit down, although he had a narrow escape from being burned seriously.

http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=h2 … 52,3690085

The paddle seems to be very much the preferred implement in USA schools. When did it first come into widespread use? I am particularly interested in early mentions of the school paddle in dated factual or fictional literature, and in official documents.

Have other cultures used the paddle in schools?

Excerpt from The all Americans by Lars Anderson, St. Martin’s Press, 2004

Born to Scottish parents in Detroit, Michigan, in 1897, little Earl Blaik had a mop of copper-colored haireveryone called him “Red” – and he played the role of the rambunctious redhead to a T. In school he sassed his teachers, telling them how things ought to be. He often got the paddle after class, but that did little to calm this tempest of a boy. He found that the best place to channel his energy was on the athletic fields, where he could dominate boys nearly twice his size.

http://books.google.com/books?id=uLG1zk0gPf8C

Wikipedia: Blaik was born in Detroit, Michigan, the son of William Blaik, a blacksmith and carriage maker who emigrated from Glasgow, Scotland in 1883. In 1901 the family moved to Dayton, Ohio, where his father became a contractor.

He played college football for three seasons at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio under Chester J. Roberts, George Rider and George Little and two seasons at the United States Military Academy at West Point where he became a third-team All-American. Following his graduation in 1920, Blaik served in the United States Cavalry for two years. After his military service, Blaik married and worked in the construction business with his father.

Ohio features in 9 of the messages above.

The paddle seems to be very much the preferred implement in USA schools. When did it first come into widespread use? I am particularly interested in early mentions of the school paddle in dated factual or fictional literature, and in official documents.

Have other cultures used the paddle in schools?

OHIO SCHOOL CP LAW 1858HTTP://BOOKS.GOOGLE.COM/BOOKS?ID=DXIJM75Y9P4C&PG=PA124

STATE OF OHIO, OFFICE OF COMMISSIONER OF SCHOOLS
Columbus, June 7, 1858
EXCERPT, PAGE 124-

QUESTION 82. Mr. J-, a teacher in the common schools of the town of M-, has been prosecuted for inflicting corporal punishment on one of the scholars, who had repeatedly transgressed the rules of his school. It is not pretended that the punishment was disproportionate to the offense, or that the scholar received any personal injury; for the teacher struck him only three blows with an ordinary rod.

What is the law in regard to the right of a teacher to inflict corporal punishment on his scholars? Are there any cases or decisions which settle this question?

ANSWER. – The question as to the right of a teacher to inflict corporal punishment upon scholars has never come before the supreme court of this state. Teachers have been prosecuted in this as well as in other states for inflicting such punishment, and the question as to their legal right to do so has been frequently raised; but the decisions have, very generally, been in favor of such right. The teacher being in loco parentis, and responsible for the government and proper discipline of his school, is clothed with the same power to punish scholars for refractory conduct, which is allowed by law to a parent in the government of his children. The decisions of all the cases of this kind, within the knowledge of the undersigned, have generally turned on the point, whether the punishment was reasonable or not.

In a case which came before John C. Spencer, one of the ablest jurists of the State of New York, while he was superintendent ex officio of common schools, he decided that “the authority of the teacher to punish his scholars extends to acts done in the school room, or on the play-ground. The teacher of a school has, necessarily, the government of it, and he may prescribe the rules and principles on which such government will be conducted. The trustees should not interfere with the discipline of the school, except on complaint of misconduct on the part of the teacher; and they should then invariably sustain such teacher, unless his conduct has been grossly wrong.”

A similar decision was made by John A. Dix, a distinguished statesman and jurist, while he was superintendent of common schools. He said: “The teacher is responsible for maintaining good order, and he must be the judge of the degree and nature of the punishment required, where his authority is set at defiance. At the same time, he is liable to the party injured for any abuse of a prerogative which is wholly derived from custom.”

In Kent’s Commentaries, seventh edition, vol. ii, page 212, note, the following decision may be found: “A school-master, who stands in loco parentis, may, in proper cases, inflict moderate and reasonable chastisement.” The State v. Prendergrass.

The subjoined cases are somewhat analogous. “The master of a vessel may inflict moderate correction on his seamen for sufficient cause; yet if he exceeds the bounds of moderation, and is guilty of unnecessary severity, he will be liable for a trespass.” 14 Johns. Eep. 119. “A master may justify the chastisement of his apprentice, servant or scholar, if it is done with a proper instrument and in a proper manner.” 3 Salkeld, 47.

In Wharton’s American Criminal Law, page 464, the following principle is laid down: ” It is admissible for the defendant to show that the alleged battery was merely the correcting of a child by its parent, the correcting of a servant or scholar’ by his master, or the punishment of the criminal by a proper officer; but if the parent or master chastising the child exceed the bound of moderation, and inflict cruel and merciless punishment, he is a trespasser and liable to be punished by indictment. The law confides to schoolmasters and teachers a discretionary power in the infliction of punishment upon pupils, and will not hold them responsible criminally, unless the punishment be such as to occasion permanent injury to the child, or be inflicted merely to gratify their own evil passions.”

From the foregoing opinions and decisions, the principle would seem to be pretty well settled, that the power allowed by law to the parent over the person of his child, by the act of sending the child to school, delegated, for the time being, to the teacher; and that the same circumstances which would justify a parent in resorting to corporal punishment, in order to subdue a disobedient child, will also justify a teacher in the use of the same means to control a refractory scholar.

There has been, it is true, much diversity of opinion among eminent educationists and others, as to the necessity, expediency, or even utility of corporal punishment as a means of school government; but the right of the teacher thus to punish his scholars, for stubborn and continued resistance to his authority, has not been judicially denied.

QUESTION 85. – It is claimed by some of the citizens of the village of, that a teacher has no legal authority to punish his scholars for disorderly, immoral, or improper acts done while on their way to or from school, or at noon. If such is the law, how shall those be restrained, who abuse their school mates, and use profane and other unbecoming language in their presence, before or after school, or at noon?

ANSWER. – The legal right of the teacher to punish his scholars for disorderly acts done in the school room or on the play-ground, before the opening of the school, after its close, during morning or afternoon recess, or at noon, has been fully recognized by the courts of this country. But whether his authority to punish his scholars extends to immoral or disorderly conduct elsewhere is not so fully established. By some it is contended that the legal right of a teacher to inflict corporal punishment upon a scholar in any case, is derived from the fact that he stands in “loco parentis” and therefore it can not be extended to acts done before this relation has commenced, or after it has terminated, without the express consent of the parent. It is further contended that this delegation to the teacher of the power allowed by law to the parent over the person of his child does not take place till the child has reached the school premises, and must end when he leaves for home. On the contrary, it is maintained by others, that the right of a teacher to hold his scholars responsible for improper conduct on their way to and from school, is fully sanctioned by usage. Under all the circumstances, it is believed that the most prudent course for a teacher to take in a case like the one presented, would be to notify the parent of the misconduct complained of, and if his permission to punish the offending scholar can be obtained, and the disorderly bahavior be repeated, then to refer the matter to the board of education.

There can be no doubt that boards of education possess the legal power to make and enforce such rules and regulations as in their judgment may be necessary for the best interests of the schools within their jurisdiction; and it is their duty as well as their right to co-operate with the teacher in the government of the school, and to aid him to the extent of their power and influence in the enforcement of reasonable and proper rules and regulations, and to dismiss a scholar from the school whenever he uses at school, or on his way to or from the same, such rude, vulgar or profane language, and exhibits such a degree of moral depravity generally, as to render his association with other scholars dangerous to the latter, or whenever he manifests such violent insubordination as to render the maintenance of discipline and order in the school impracticable or extremely difficult. It is also the duty as well as the legal right of the local directors to see that the general character, usefulness, and prosperity of the school are not impaired by allowing those to remain in it, whose whole influence, conduct, and bad character, have forfeited all claim to the enjoyment of its privileges.

[Ohio was admitted to the Union as the 17th state in 1803. It first introduced compulsory education in 1877.]