SLS 21RS-275 ORIGINAL
2021 Regular Session
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOL UTION NO. 18
BY SENATOR FIELDS
EDUCATION DEPARTMENT. Requests the state Department of Education to study the
feasibility of banning the use of corporal punishment in public schools.
1 A CONCURRENT RESOL UTION
2 To urge and request the state Department of Education to study the feasibility of banning the
3 use of corporal punishment in public schools.
4 WHEREAS, R.S. 17:416.1 grants public school governing authorities discretion with
5 respect to the use of corporal punishment and requires the governing authority of each public
6 elementary and secondary school to adopt rules and regulations regarding the use of corporal
7 punishment in the schools under its jurisdiction; and
8 WHEREAS, "corporal punishment" is statutorily defined as "using physical force to
9 discipline a student, with or without an object", and further states that corporal punishment
10 includes "hitting, paddling, striking, spanking, slapping, or any other physical force that
11 causes pain or physical punishment"; and
12 WHEREAS, at least thirty-one states and fifty-four countries have banned the use
13 of corporal punishment and there is considerable research indicating that corporal
14 punishment is not an effective deterrent to undesirable behavior; and
15 WHEREAS, the American Academy of Pediatrics deems the practice of using
16 corporal punishment in schools to be a noteworthy cause of aggressive behavior and mental
17 health problems, as well as being detrimental to a student's academic achievement; and
18 WHEREAS, in response to the most recent state Department of Education survey,
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SLS 21RS-275 ORIGINAL
1 fifty-four of the state's seventy school districts indicated that corporal punishment is used
2 in the schools under their jurisdiction; and
3 WHEREAS, corporal punishment disproportionately impacts minorities and students
4 from poorer socioeconomic backgrounds; and
5 WHEREAS, state law prohibits the use of corporal punishment to discipline students
6 with exceptionalities; it is equally imperative that positive, supportive, effective, and less
7 harmful means of disciplining students be identified and implemented as an alternative to
8 corporal punishment.
9 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
10 urge and request the state Department of Education to study the feasibility of banning the
11 use of corporal punishment in public schools.
12 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the state Department of Education consider the
13 research and recommendations of the Advisory Council on Student Behavior and Discipline,
14 created by R.S. 17:253, and consult with the council in conducting the requested study.
15 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the state Department of Education shall submit
16 a written report of its findings and recommendations to the Senate Committee on Education
17 and the House Committee on Education not later than January 31, 2022.
18 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
19 state superintendent of education.
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Jeanne C. Johnston.
DIGEST
SCR 18 Original 2021 Regular Session Fields
Requests the state Department of Education (DOE) to study the feasibility of banning the use
of corporal punishment in public schools.
Requires DOE to submit a written report of its findings and recommendations to the Senate
Committee on Education and the House Committee on Education not later than
January 31, 2022.
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