Corporal Punishment in Arkansas Public Schools, 2001-2002
(Referencing the Arkansas Department of Education SIS database, July, 2002
 
 
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Educators in Arkansas used corporal punishment 52,157 times in 2001-2002.
  • That's 2.02 trips to the office for the 25,825 children paddled. Statewide, students risked a 5.76% chance of being struck. In paddling schools odds jump to 1 in 10... worse for male, African American, Special Ed. students. 
  • In 382 schools, teachers hit none of their 177,496 pupils (40% of state enrollment); 28.5% of them African American. 
African American children were hit 34% of the time the paddle was used, or 147% of their proportion of state enrollment.
  • They were 30.75% of the children paddled, or 133% of their proportion of total enrollment. 
  • They averaged 2.23 paddlings per pupil, compared to 1.93 for Whites and the 2.02 statwide average. 
  • 8% of African American pupils were paddled, compared to 5% of Whites and the 5.76% statewide rate. Statistical analyses show that being paddled is dependent on race. African Americans are more likely to be hit. 
  • Racial disparities in paddling are statistically significant in over 18% of districts. 
In 22% of times children were intentionally hurt in the name of discipline, the students were identified as "Special Education" and entitled by law to receive unique learning assistance.
  • Neither special nor unique, corporal punishment was inflicted upon this group at a rate nearly 175% of their proportion of enrollment. 
  • The Special Education students who were African American were 33% of the total instances of corporal punishment of Special Education students, or 147% of their proportion of that group. 

Paddling as a Risk Factor of Enrollment in Arkansas Public Schools, 2001-2002 School Year
 
 
Asian/ 
 African   Hispanic  Native 
 White 
Total
Pacific Isl.   American  American 
Enrollment
 
a Enrollment (by ethnicity), October 1, 2001  4,135 103,936 18,620 2,293  319,262  448,246
 
Enrollment (by ethnicity), as a percentage 
of total enrollment ( a / 448,246 )		 0.92% 23.19% 4.15% 0.51% 71.22%
 
Paddlings; "Regular" class 71 13,980 783 185 25,748 40,767
 
Paddlings; "Special Ed." 4 3,751 97 38 7,500 11,390
 
Instances of Corporal punishment (by Ethnicity), 2001-2002  75 17,731 880 223 33,248 52,157
 
b Students subjected to Corporal punishment 47 7,941 522 95 17,220 25,825
 
Students paddled, as a percentage 
of ethnic enrollment ( b / a ) 		 1.14% 7.64% 2.80% 4.14% 5.39% 5.76%
 
Students paddled, as a percentage 
of total corporal punishment ( b / 25,825 ) 		 0.18% 30.75% 2.02% 0.37% 66.68%



  Acknowledgements:
  •   James Boardman, Assistant Director  for  Information and Technology, Arkansas Department of Education, coordinated the State Information System (SIS) queries that generated the raw data reports analized by NeverHitAChild.ORG.  His "section" is responsible for providing accurate, timely information and appropriate, viable technology in support of the functions of the ADE.   One of his primary responsibilities is to analyze data and produce informational reports for policy makers, educators, business and industry leaders, and the general public ( email: jboardman@arkedu.k12.ar.us or phone:  501- 682-4239 ). 
  •   Robert Fathman, Ph.D., President, National Coalition to Abolish Corporal Punishment in Schools, provided encouragment and editorial assistance. 
  •   Jordan Riak, Executive Director, Parents and Teachers Against Violence in Education, helped relate the significance of the statistics to the multidimensional risks for children and the liability risks for school districts ( click here ). 
  •   The National Coalition to Abolish Corporal Punishment in Schools provides school corporal punishment statistical data at their web site.  "Number of Students Struck.." is item five, Facts About Corporal Punishment ( click here ). 
The data we have secured from the Arkansas Department of Education is contained in Microsoft Excel spreadsheets converted from data base queries of tables built from individually submitted public school reports.  If you are interested in specific types of data, statistical analyses, etc., just write us and we will attach the file(s) to an email reply to you.  Please also write to us if there is any other assistance we might provide.  Address your messages to:, describe your interest and be sure to make "NHAC.ORG" the subject.