Corporal Punishment in Arkansas Public Schools, 2004-2005
(Referencing the Arkansas Department of Education SIS database, 2004-2005)
 
 
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Educators in Arkansas used corporal punishment 40,517 times in 2004-2005.
  • ...the use of corporal punishment in schools is intrinsically related to child maltreatment. It contributes to a climate of violence, it implies that society approves of the physical violation of children, it establishes an unhealthy norm..." U.S. Advisory Board on Child Abuse and Neglect. 

    • Parents improved the quality of their children's school day experience only somewhat...

  • The paddle was used 6,500 fewer times than in 2003-2004.
  • 30 school districts out of 264 that year reported no  pupils hit by their teachers.
  • 450 schools out of 1137 (some of them in districts that permit paddling) reported zero paddling.
African American children, however, were hit 30.37% of the times the paddle was used, or 1 and 1/3 times their proportion of state enrollment.
  • 40,517 times in 2004-2005, an Arkanas public school teacher hit a pupil with a board.
  • 12,306 times, the child was African American (30.37% of total).
  • 103,587 of the 455,515 students enrolled in 2004-2005 were African American (22.74%)
  • The proportion of the 40,517 paddlings that involved an African American was one and one-third times the proportion of student enrollment that was African American (30.37% divided by 22.74% reveals the problematic disproportion).
  • Statistical analyses accepted by the U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights have shown that being paddled in Arkansas schools has been dependent upon race. African Americans are more likely to be hit in the name of discipline than are Whites.
  • Racial disparities in paddling have been statistically significant in nearly one out of five Arkansas school districts.
21.74% 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.
  • 57,465 of the 455,515 students enrolled in 2004-2005 were classified "Special Education"... 12.6% of total enrollment. 
  • 8,809 of the 40,517 paddlings (21.74%) involved a Special Education student. Neither special nor unique, corporal punishment was inflicted upon this group at a rate 172% of their proportion of enrollment.
  • 2,511 of the 8,809 paddlings endured by Special Education students occurred to African Americans... 28.5%; a rate 1 and 1/4 times their proportion of total enrollment.  
  • These proportions are too high to rule out the possibility that the maltreatment of these children is dependent upon their learning disabilities AND their race.

Paddling as a Risk Factor of Enrollment in Arkansas Public Schools, 2004-2005


 
Asian/ 
 African   Hispanic  Native 
 White 
Total
Pacific Isl.   American  American   
 
a Enrollment (by ethnicity), October 1, 2004 5,761 103,587 27,313 2,787  316,067  455,515
 
Enrollment (by ethnicity), as a percentage 
of total enrollment ( a / 452,036 )		 1.26% 22.74% 6.0% 0.61% 69.39%
 
Paddlings; "Regular" class 97 9,795 789 127 20,900 31,708
 
Paddlings; "Special Ed." 16 2,511 117 26 6,139 8,809
 
Instances of Corporal punishment (by Ethnicity), 2004-2005 113 12,306 906 153 27,039 40,517
 

  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.  The Arkansas Public School Computer Network Statewide Information System web site is at: www.k12.ar.us/apscndocs/sis.htm). 
  •   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.
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