[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 34 (Tuesday, February 23, 2021)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E153]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 INTRODUCTION OF THE ENDING CORPORAL PUNISHMENT IN SCHOOLS ACT OF 2021

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                         HON. ALCEE L. HASTINGS

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 23, 2021

  Mr. HASTINGS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to introduce the Ending 
Corporal Punishment in Schools Act of 2021. Corporal punishment is a 
form of physical discipline where adults deliberately inflict pain on 
children in order to punish them. In schools, it typically involves the 
spanking or paddling of children by school officials.
  Corporal punishment is harmful to long term child development. These 
practices are associated with physical abuse and ineffective. We as 
leaders should encourage our schools to adopt effective discipline 
strategies that will be supportive in reducing corporal punishment.
  Schools must be a safe place where students are protected from harm, 
so that our children are able to thrive, grow, and learn. To date, 
corporal punishment in school is banned in 128 countries around the 
world. Sadly, 19 U.S. states still allow corporal punishments in their 
schools. Over 160,000 children in these states are subjected to 
corporal punishment in schools each year. This is abhorrent and 
unacceptable.
  To end this cruel practice, the Ending Corporal Punishment in Schools 
Act of 2021 would prohibit any educational institution from receiving 
federal funding that allows school personnel to inflict corporal 
punishment on students and creates a new grant program to encourage 
improvements in school climate by promoting positive behaviors.
  Madam Speaker, our schools must be a safe space for American children 
to learn. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this critically 
important bill, and hope to see its swift passage in the near future.

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