LA: Efforts to restrict paddling in school fails

POSTED BY WILL SENTELL | CAPITOL NEWS BUREAU | ON JUNE 21, 2009 | 7:45 P.M.

http://www.2theadvocate.com/blogs/politicsblog/48734122.html

A bid to put new restrictions on corporal punishment in public schools failed in the state House this evening.

State Rep. Barbara Norton, D-Shreveport, tried to require that school nurses conduct a medical examination of students who are subject to corporal punishment, which is usually paddling.

Nurses would then be required to file a written report on the student's condition that would go to the superintendent of the school district, the principal of the school and the student's parents.

"All we have to do is let the nurse check that child," Norton told the House. "All we are doing it protecting our children."

The House rejected the amendment 26-66.

State Rep. Frank Hoffman, R-West Monroe, criticized the measure.

"It sounds good but I don't know if it is very practical," Hoffman said. Hoffman said most schools face a shortage of nurses.

Norton tried to attach her amendment to a school discipline measure, Senate Bill 223. The House passed the bill 101-0.

On Tuesday the House Education Committee rejected a bill by Norton that would ban corporal punishment in public schools.

ACTION ALERT: Louisiana - Testimony Needed on June 16th!

Dear Advocates:

Your help is needed. On June 16, 2009 a hearing is scheduled at the Louisiana State Capital concerning HB 571 to abolish corporal punishment. If you or someone you know has been directly impacted by or if you stand against corporal punishment in Louisiana schools, your testimony is needed! Please use your voice to support this measure!

The hearing will take place at 9:00 am in the House Committee Rooom 1 at the State Capital building.

 

Please see the attached schedule:

 

http://house.louisiana.gov/Agendas_2009/Jun_09/0616_09_ED.pdf

 

Here is the map and directions

http://house.louisiana.gov/H_Citizens/H_Citizens_CapitolDir.htm

 

You may also contact Rep Barbara Norton at bnorton@legis.state.la.us or call her office at 1 (318) 632-5887 for more information.

Thanks again for your support!! 

ACTION ALERT: Louisiana Support Needed for Corporal Punishment Ban

Dear Advocates:

House Bill 571 to ban corporal punishment has been proposed in the state of Louisiana by Representative Barbara Norton. 

The language for the bill can be found here: http://www.legis.state.la.us/billdata/byinst.asp?sessionid=09rs&billtype=HB&billno=571

In order for this bill to be successful, lawmakers need to hear from us! Please submit a letter of support to the following:

http://house.louisiana.gov/h_reps/members.asp?ID=3  

Email Rep Norton : nortonb@legis.state.la.us

Also, Please contact the Louisiana House Education Committee Members and urge them to support HB 571.

Here is the contact list of committee members:

http://house.louisiana.gov/H_Cmtes/H_Cmte_ED.asp

Thanks for your help!!

LA: Corporal Punishment Debate

Posted: June 8, 2009 07:25 PM

Updated: June 9, 2009 06:03 PM

http://www.katc.com/Global/story.asp?S=10498787

The issue of corporal punishment is about to heat up in Louisiana.  Representative Barbara Norton, D-Shreveport, has proposed a bill that would prohibit the punishment in public schools.  House Bill 571 goes before the House Education Committee Tuesday afternoon.

Several school districts in Acadiana will be watching the bill's progress closely.  Public schools in Iberia, St. Landry, Vermillion and St. Martin parishes all condone corporal punishment.

"It is in policy, but it's up to the administrators to determine if corporal punishment is necessary, but generally as stated in the policy it is not the first line of discipline," said Richard Lavergne, superintendent of Saint Martin Parish Schools.

Lavergne says several factors are considered before administering corporal punishment.

"You have to take into account the age of the student, the size, the gender."

Dalton Alexander has five children in St. Martin Parish Schools.  He says he is not against corporal punishment, so long as parents are informed.

"It is a physical action so you would want to consult parents before taking that action," said Alexander.

In St. Martin Schools, the handbook states parents must give consent before their children are disciplined using corporate punishment.

"Some parents encourage it, they want it and others do not, and by knowing your parents and students, administrators just can make a good decision," said Lavergne.

Representative Norton has planned a rally in support of her bill on the steps of the capitol for 11:00 a.m. Tuesday.

LA: Corporal Punishment Debate Continues

Posted: June 9, 2009 07:32 PM

Updated: June 10, 2009 05:33 PM

http://www.katc.com/Global/story.asp?S=10505928

The debate over corporal punishment in public schools has made it's way to the Capitol.  Tuesday Representative Barbara Norton, D-Shreveport, took her bill to ban corporal punishment before the House Education Committee.

Due to time constraints, house bill 571 was deferred until next week's meeting, but Norton did have a chance to make her case.

"There are 11,000 children being paddled in school each year," said Norton. "If these children are being whipped in their houses and whipped in the schools, I say to you today, what is it we can do to give that child some stability, to understand somebody cares."

The issue caught the attention of lawmakers on the committee, including Representative John Edwards, D-Amite, who allows corporal punishment for his son in school.

"On occasion he needs corporal punishment, but everyday he needs to know that it is something that the school can administer, and I believe that," said Edwards.

Also watching closely, supporters of Norton's cause, who think corporal punishment is disproportionately used on boys, african americans, poor and disabled students.

"What we're doing is subjecting the children who need the most support to harsh tactics, tactics we wouldn't use on prisoners, they won't use it on murderers, but they'll use it on kids who chew gum," said Shawn Fleming, deputy director of the Louisiana Developmental Disabilities Council.

The House Education Committee will reconvene next Tuesday, where they will pick up their debate on house bill 571.

LA: Legislator pushes school paddling ban

By Robb Hays
Posted: June 5, 2009 04:56 PM EDT
Updated: June 5, 2009 05:38 PM EDT
http://www.wafb.com/Global/story.asp?S=10486901&nav=menu57_2

BATON ROUGE, LA (WAFB) - A Louisiana state legislator wants to see paddling and other forms of corporal punishment banned in public schools across the state.

House Bill 571, by Representative Barbara Norton, D-Shreveport, calls for the practice of corporal punishment to become illegal beginning next school year.

Norton says the state has no tracking system in place to see which students are being paddled and how often. She says there is no way to know whether students are being paddled from one year to the next.

"If the state would introduce a tracking system, they would know it's not working," Norton said.

Norton maintains that if corporal punishment was working, the same children would not be getting paddled again and again - something she maintains is taking place.

"The school system was built on educating children, not raising them," Norton said. "If you do what you're supposed to do at home, we wouldn't have to be raising them in schools."

Norton's legislation is scheduled to be brought up for debate at noon on Tuesday June 9th before the House Committee on Education. Norton is planning to hold a rally in favor of her bill on the capitol steps at 11am that morning.

LA: Teacher fired after investigation of abuse claims

Posted: March 17, 2009 11:44 PM EDT
Updated: March 18, 2009 07:59 AM EDT
By Keitha Nelson
http://www.wafb.com/Global/story.asp?S=10025638

BATON ROUGE, LA (WAFB) - A Baton Rouge teacher has been fired after a mother says he grabbed her son around the neck, sending him to the hospital.

The alleged attack happened last Wednesday at Glen Oaks Middle School. Anthony Percy's mother says the school's principal saved her son. In an incident report, Dr. Michael Eskridge said he saw a teacher with his hand around Anthony Percy's neck.

The teacher, Jeffrey Greenwald, reportedly had the 13-year-old pressed against the doorway of a classroom. "He just choked me," Percy said. "Then, when the principal came, he said, 'You can't do that to a child.' And then he said, 'Oh, I'm sorry.'"

Sheleith Givens says her son's name was not on a list to get into the classroom where Greenwald stood checking names. It's not clear exactly what led to the alleged choking. Givens says she simply can't believe it. "'Cause, when I let my children out in the morning to go to school, I'm expecting they're in care, like they're in care with me."

Percy's neck is currently tilted to the right because, according to doctor reports, his neck was strained and muscle fibers were stretched out of place. "My other teachers would never do that to me. He's the only one," said Percy.

Givens says she's grateful Eskridge stepped in and helped her son, but even though Greenwald has been fired, she believes more needs to be done. "I'm not satisfied with him just getting laid off," she said. "It's easy. He'll find another job. My concern is will he ever try to do this to another child."

Annie Morrison, the school's spokesperson with Advance Baton Rouge, says an investigation was conducted immediately after the incident. She says Greenwald was put on leave and after the investigation was complete, he was fired.