Corporal Punishment Bad Children Schools Students Behavior Number

In the past, schoolteachers commonly used corporal punishment to punish students for bad behavior and to prevent other students from "committing similar offenses" (performing the same types of bad behavior). The teacher would "strike" (hit) a child's hand or "buttocks" (bottom; rear) a "prescribed" (set; established) number of times, most often with a "ruler" (a hard, flat surface with numbers marked on it, used to measure how long something is), a "leather" (made from the skin of an animal) "strap" (a long piece of material), or a wooden "paddle" (a round, flat surface with a handle).

"Proponents" (people who think something is a good idea) of corporal punishment believe it provides an immediate reaction to a student's bad behavior and allows the student to return to his or her studies quickly. But "opponents" believe that it is "tantamount to" (equivalent to; the same as) child abuse and that it teaches children to be violent toward others.

In modern times, the opponents of corporal punishment "have the upper hand" (are winning), and corporal punishment is illegal in the public schools in most states. However, corporal punishment is still legal in several states, primarily in the southeastern United States.

In general, corporal punishment is becoming less common, and when it is "administered" (used), specific rules "govern" (control) the number of strikes and the "implements" (tools) that may be used.