A look through the school handbook failed to show any official form for parents to opt for their children not to receive corporal punishment.
The handbook does state that St Landry Parish School Board does recognise the full responsibilities of its teachers and does hereby (our italics) authorise the use of corporal punishment reasonably administered. The Board recommends that whenever possible corporal punishment be administered by the principal or his/her designee.
None of the parents saw fit to explain if the request not to use corporal punishment on their children was an official document, properly completed, why did their daughters not tell Ms Rideau that they were excused corporal punishment before they were paddled. Could it be their daughters knew there was no get-out? Could it be they preferred to take the swat rather than detention?