Parents' Complaints Cause Change To School's Corporal Punishment Policy

A Pender County middle school has changed its policy on corporal punishment in response to complaints from parents.

Authorities say Cape Fear Middle School will still offer paddling as a means of discipline. But it will have to be administered by a parent instead of a school official.

Word of the change went out in a letter received Friday by concerned parents.

Three parents began their protests after two of their children were spanked for exposing their buttocks to a school bus Oct. 31. A third child also participated but didn't receive the same punishment.

The parents' main concerns are whether the offense warranted such severe punishment and whether schools have the authority to spank children.

The parents said that, while the revised policy is a sign of progress, they want to see the policy altogether abolished.