A dissertation completed at
The Center for Education, Widener University,
One University Place, Chester, PA 19013 		 
CORPORAL PUNISHMENT: ATTITUDES AND BEHAVIORS OF TEACHERS IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS
Linda Sheppard, Ed. D.
Thursday, July 12, 2001

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edited 02/03/02

 


ABSTRACT

In recent years there continues to be a concern over the lack of discipline in American schools. One of the most challenging and often one of the most baffling problems teachers have to face isof channeling the ceaseless activities of children in organized patterns of self-controlled behavior. Many school boards focus on school violence and problems in the schools. Corporal punishment is a topic that is commonly raised and debated as an option for practice.

The use of corporal punishment in the school generates heated public debate on occasion. It is a controversial issue in American education where it is still often used. Corporal punishment is used in all of our English speaking countries and illegal in Continental Europe, Russia, France, Japan, Israel and other industrialized nations. Graziano and Namaste (1996) state that physical punishment in the United Sates is accepted. Pennsylvania still permits corporal punishment in schools (Hyman, 1997).

According to Hyman (1976) corporal punishment is widespread and is an official form of discipline used in the home and School. Themost common form of punishment in America is spanking (Hyman,1997) . Yet, while there continues to be a debate over the use of corporal punishment in the schools, little scientific data have been developed to help resolve the issue. Keeshan (1989) states that corporal punishment is used three million times a year in the nation according to federal estimates.

Questions continue to be raised, regarding the effectiveness of corporal punishment in producing durable behavior change, the various factors that influence the outcome and any side effects it may cause in children. The purpose of this study was to determinethe attitudes and beliefs of elementary school teachers towards corporal punishment and to discover the demographic differences between those teachers who support and those who do not support its use.

Thirteen elementary schools in the School District of Lancaster were selected to participate in this study. The elementary schools are groups of schools which vary, in demographically. Although the School District of Lancaster is primarily urban, the'schools are located in various areas of Lancaster City. The elementary teachers are located in urban, suburban, and rural school communities which encompass the School District of Lancaster. This insured a satisfactory representation of schools in the district.

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