“Cassville is a traditional town”
Merlyn Johnson says he didn’t take on the position of Cassville school board superintendent to reintroduce caning. “But it’s something that happened under my supervision. I have no problem with that.” Some parents would have thanked him for the new method of punishment. In addition, only children from families who had explicitly agreed to the method would be punished. “However,” adds Johnson, “Cassville is a very traditional Missouri town. Parents want that opportunity for the schools.”
In the US, the decision on the legality of caning rests with the states following a Supreme Court ruling in 1977. In addition to Missouri, children in Arkansas, Kansas, Kentucky, Tennessee, Oklahoma, Alabama, Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Louisiana, North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas, and Wyoming can legally.
Corporal punishment is subject to clear rules
Cassville has been an exception so far. About 20 years ago, the school board took away the ability of schools to punish children by beating. In almost all other counties in the area there is still caning – but it is hardly used, reports the “Springfield News-Leader”.
Nevertheless, Merlyn Johnson wants to take action once morest criticism at an early stage and explains: “There are clear rules for carrying out corporal punishment.” Only the head teacher is allowed to carry out the punishment, and at least one witness must be present. “Beatings to the face or head are strictly prohibited. The only form of punishment permitted is beatings on the buttocks.”
According to Johnson, caning makes more sense than having children expelled from school for their misbehavior. “At least that way a naughty child stays in the classroom and learns. If we exclude children from class, they often don’t have the opportunity to catch up on the missed material. Then they get bad grades – and we don’t want that.”
