Paddling students in public school is still legal in 23 states. And while this type of corporal punishment is uncommon in most states, even when it’s legal, Mississippi and Arkansas are exceptions.
Map: the states where teachers hit their students the most
Libby Nelson was Vox’s editorial director, politics and policy, leading coverage of how government action and inaction shape American life. Libby has more than a decade of policy journalism experience, including at Inside Higher Ed and Politico. She joined Vox in 2014.
This chart from the I Got Charts Tumblr, based on data from the Education Department’s Office for Civil Rights, shows where students are most likely to be paddled at school as a punishment:
Black students are more likely to be paddled than white students. The Nation reported in detail this spring on Mississippi, corporal punishment in schools, and the racial dynamics at play.
Corporal punishment at school is banned in Europe, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. And several countries ban spanking as child abuse altogether.
See More:
