FILE:  JDA

Cf:  GAMC

 

CORPORAL PUNISHMENT

 

 

Effective August 4, 2022, no employee or agent of the St. Landry Parish School Board shall be permitted to use corporal punishment upon a student to reform unacceptable conduct or as a penalty for unacceptable conduct.

 

Corporal punishment means using physical force to discipline a student, with or without an object.  Corporal punishment includes hitting, paddling, striking, spanking, slapping, or any other physical force that causes pain or physical discomfort.  Taping a student’s mouth shut or otherwise restricting his or her airway in any manner is prohibited.

 

Corporal punishment does not include:

 

  1. The use of reasonable and necessary physical restraint of a student to protect the student, or others, from bodily harm or to obtain possession of a weapon or other dangerous object from a student.

  2. The use of seclusion and restraint as provided in La. Rev. Stat. Ann. §17:416.21.

 

Nothing contained in this policy is either intended to or now shall be interpreted to prohibit an employee from using physical force, reasonable and appropriate under the circumstances, in defending himself/herself against a physical attack by a student or to restrain a student from attacking another student or employee, or to prevent acts of misconducts, including but not limited to, acts which are so anti-social or disruptive in nature as to shock the conscience.

 

IMPERMISSIBLE CORPORAL PUNISHMENT

 

In instances where allegations of abuse of a student are reported against an employee, principal or other school official, through the administering of impermissible corporal punishment or any other moral offense, the Superintendent shall promptly investigate the action, in accordance with provisions of policy GAMC, Investigations.

 

Adopted:  July 18, 1991

Revised:  November 2, 2017

Revised:  November, 1991

Revised:  August 4, 2022

Revised:  May 7, 1992

Revised:  October 3, 2024

 

 

Ref:    U.S. Constitution, Amend. XIII

U.S. Constitution, Amend XIV, Sec. 1

La. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§17:81.6, 17:223, 17:416, 17:416.1

Baker v. Owen, 96 S. Ct. 210 affirming 395 F. Supp. 294 (M.D.N.C., 1975)

Ingraham v. Wright, 97 S. Ct. 1401, (1977)

Board minutes, 9-19-91, 1-23-92, 11-2-17, 8-4-22, 10-3-24

 

St. Landry Parish School Board