Corporal Punishment in school?

Question

In our state, corporal punishment is legal in schools. My son who is 15, was caught smoking weed during lunch time and sent down to the principle's office, the principle talked to him and then my son was to be given 3 swats on his wrist with a strap. After the first hit my son retailated and punched him in the stomache and walked out.

My son is at home right now and charges are pending and is suspended for now. What can expect to happen with charges regarding my son, and the principle?

Need opinions please!

Answer 1

Hard time!

Answer 2

I think he ought to be sent to a juvenile detention facility -- not the jail kind, but the help for at-risk kids kind.  If he's smoking weed, never mind smoking weed at school, he's got bigger problems than hitting the principal.  I think a strap on the wrist is the wrong approach.  I think it should be a wooden paddle on the buttocks.  And expulsion rather than just suspension for having drugs at school.

Answer 3

He may not be returning to that school again. Your son will most likely be sent to a lock down facility for counseling and education for the next year and you may have Social Services at your door for a home inspection and questioning. I feel for you but you can't be with them 24/7.

Answer 4

I don't care what the law says, physical punishment is still assault, no matter how they try to play it. How is a strap across the wrist going to stop a child from smoking pot. Since he was under the influence of this drug, his thinking was impaired and he just re-acted to someone hitting him. I am not condoning him smoking pot, that needs to be nipped in the bud (so to speak). He needed maybe detention so he could think about his actions and perhaps counseling to get to the root of why he was using pot.

He may get probation and periodic drug testing. He may have to go to an anger management course. I don't know what your state does in these cases. My son went through a similar experience, he wasn't hit by the principal , just screamed at and belittled. He just spit on the Principal and assault charges were filed on my son and of course no one believed the Principal was anyway at fault.

Good luck to you and your son.

Answer 5

That's kind of serious on what your son did. He was in the wrong in the first place. Smoking weed at school!!! Then he punch the principal...he must be having some behavior problems.

Answer 6

Wow, I didn't know that was still legal anywhere! That being said, since it doesn't appear that your son acted in self-defense, the charges are likely to stick unless the school just chooses to drop them. Have you tried mediation with the school to see if anything can be worked out that way? Do you have any close friends that are police officers or lawyers? They could probably give you good advice as to how to handle the situation and the potential consequences for your son. Good luck to both of you!