How do I handle a corporal punishment issue in my son's high school?
My 15 yo 9th grader came home from school the other day, telling me the teacher had "whipped" him. When I asked why, he told me that it was because he ran to the door when the fire alarm went off. That evening the teacher phoned to say that my son was constantly "disrupting her class". When I asked her if she whipped him, she became irate, admitted that she merely "popped" him. When questioned further, she also admitted that she told him he needed to be whipped every day. Our school does have a strict corporal punishment policy. It is to be administered in the presence of a second adult, and only after all other discipline methods have failed. This was the 1st notice I’d rec’d about his behavior. Also, it is not to be carried out in the presence of other students. This teacher seriously violated the school’s own policy by hitting my son in the classroom. I’ve not gone to the school board or the principal yet for fear that my son will be retaliated against. How should I handle this?
Public school, not private
Apparently some answerers didn’t read my question details. I have spoken with the teacher. I DO know what my son *asked* when he was told he needed to be whipped everyday, and humiliated in front of the class. Asked teacher to repeat directions. Teacher admitted that to be the truth. Corporal punishment policy in our school dictates that students are not to be "whipped" in the presence of other students, and then only when all other forms of discipline have failed.
hsfromth…..My son and the teacher agree on what happened. I didn’t have to take anyone’s side, or believe my son instead of the teacher. The problem I have with the teacher is that she failed to abide by the school’s policy for corporal punishment when she struck him in the presence of other students, without due process (no prior notice to parents of student misconduct, not notifying the principal, not notifying parent in writing of whipping [I had to learn about it from my son], and the fact that it was used as a first line of punishment, which is against the school’s Corporal Punishment Policy).