Corpun file 4447 at www.corpun.com

The Oklahoman, Oklahoma City, 12 October 1992

Most Districts Not Spanking

By Jack Money

The majority of school districts surveyed by The Oklahoman are observing the state request to not spank schoolchildren.

Of 47 school districts surveyed, 34 school districts do not spank, 10 districts use spanking as punishment, two did not respond and one was unavailable for comment.

Also, districts generally are switching to smoke-free campuses for both students and instructors.

State education officials said they are pleased that a majority of districts surveyed are observing the two-year voluntary ban on spanking issued by the state Board of Education.

However, the education department won't know how many districts are observing the ban until sometime in November, spokesman Jon Dahlander said Thursday.

"We will get a preliminary reading in November at the state board of education meeting, when we hear back from in-field accreditation officers who have been checking with their districts," Dahlander said.

The spokesman said the state board apparently felt the need to go on the record to voice its concern about the use of corporal punishment in schools.

He added the action wasn't necessarily prompted by brutality complaints.

The board was presented with information by the group called Oklahomans Opposed to Corporal Punishment led by Fran Morris, he said.

Data presented by the group showed Oklahoma was ninth in the nation last year for the number of spankings, he said.

Dahlander said many states already have abolished corporal punishment.

"It's a possibility that our board of education will be looking at doing the same thing after our moratorium expires," Dahlander said, but added there has been no discussion of extending the moratorium beyond 1993-94.

Not all superintendents are in favor of the ban.

Hennessey superintendent Jerry Pippin said his district is continuing to allow spanking "because it's probably one of the best disciplinary measures there is, if it's done right. "

And Larry Northcutt, superintendent of Coyle schools, said he is opposed to the requested ban even 1 though his district is observing the state request.

"I'm not for doing away with it," Northcutt said. "I just think it's another example of local control being taken away.

"I think it has to be used in a professional way," helping keep children from being sent home, he said.

In some districts, spanking is allowed with parental consent, while in others the practice was axed before the state request for a ban.

Following is a list of districts and whether they allow spanking and on-campus smoking. Also included in this list is whether each district is considering adding more security for the safety of students and faculty members.

BETHANY: Observes state request to ban spanking; does not allow on-campus smoking; school board has passed additional regulations to increase security.

BETHEL: Observes state request to ban spanking; allows on-campus smoking for faculty only; is not considering additional security.

BLANCHARD: Not observing state request to ban spanking; does not allow on-campus smoking; is not considering additional security.

BRIDGE CREEK: Observes state request to ban spanking; does not allow on-campus smoking; has added motion detectors to deter burglaries.

CASHION: Observes state request to ban spanking; does not allow on-campus smoking for students; is not considering additional security.

CHANDLER: Observes state request to ban spanking; does not allow on-campus smoking; is not considering additional security.

CHOCTAW-NICOMA PARK: Not observing state request to ban spanking; allows on-campus smoking; is not considering additional security.

COYLE: Observes state request to ban spanking; does not allow smoking during school days; Is not considering additional security.

CRESCENT: Observes state request to ban spanking; does not allow on-campus smoking; is not considering additional security.

CROOKED OAK: Observes state request to ban spanking; does not allow on-campus smoking for students; is not considering additional security.

CRUTCHO: Observes state request to ban spanking; allows on-campus smoking in designated areas; is not considering additional security.

DEER CREEK: Hasn't had spanking for more than two years; does not allow on-campus smoking; is not considering additional security.

1 EDMOND: Not observing state request to ban spanking, however, officials say it rarely happens; does not allow on-campus smoking for students; is not considering additional security.

EL RENO: Not observing state request to ban spanking; does not allow on-campus smoking; is not considering additional security.

GUTHRIE: Observes state request to ban spanking, but gave it up before state ban; does not allow on-campus smoking; is adding additional security.

HARRAH: Did not respond.

HENNESSEY: Not observing state request to ban spanking; is considering whether to ban smoking; is not considering additional security.

JONES: Observes state request to ban spanking; does not allow on-campus smoking; is not considering additional security.

KINGFISHER: Observes state request to ban spanking; allows on-campus smoking in designated areas; is not considering additional security.

LEXINGTON: Not observing state request to ban spanking; does not allow on-campus smoking; is not considering additional security.

LITTLE AXE: Observes state request to ban spanking; does not allow on-campus smoking; is not considering additional security.

LUTHER: Did not respond to survey.

McLOUD: Observes state request to ban spanking; does not allow smoking; is not considering additional security.

MEEKER: Observes state request to ban spanking; does not allow on-campus smoking; is not considering additional security.

MIDWEST CITY-DEL CITY: Observes state request to ban spanking; does not allow on-campus smoking for students, however smoking areas for administrators and teachers are decided on a building-by-building basis; has added additional security.

MILLWOOD: Observes state request to ban spanking; allows on-campus smoking in designated areas; is not considering additional security.

MINCO: Observes state request to ban spanking; does not allow on-campus smoking; is not considering additional security.

MOORE: Does not allow spanking and hasn't for two years; does not allow smoking in buildings; is not considering additional security.

MUSTANG: Observes state request to ban spanking; does not allow on-campus smoking for students; is not considering additional security.

NEWCASTLE: Unavailable for comment.

NOBLE: Observes 1 state request to ban spanking; allows on-campus smoking; is not considering additional security.

NORMAN: Banned spanking two years ago after three-year moratorium; does not allow on-campus smoking; is considering additional security.

OAKDALE: Observes state request to ban spanking; does not allow on-campus smoking; is not considering additional security other than more fire protection devices.

OKLAHOMA CITY: Observes state request to ban spanking; does not allow on-campus smoking; is considering additional security.

PIEDMONT: Not observing state request to ban spanking, however, parents may request their children not be spanked; does not allow on-campus smoking; is not considering additional security.

PRAGUE: Observes state request to ban spanking; allows smoking in designated areas; is not considering additional security.

PUTNAM CITY: Not observing state request to ban spanking, however, district only uses it as a last resort; does not allow on-campus smoking; is not considering additional security.

ROBIN HILL: Observes state request to ban spanking; allows on-campus smoking; is not considering additional security.

SHAWNEE: Observes state request to ban spanking; allows on-campus smoking for adults only; is not considering 1 additional security.

TECUMSEH: Observes state request to ban spanking; does not allow on-campus smoking; is not considering additional security.

TUTTLE: Observes state request to ban spanking; allows on-campus smoking; is not considering additional security.

UNION CITY: Observes state request to ban spanking; allows on-campus smoking after school hours; is not considering additional security.

WASHINGTON: Not observing state request to ban spanking; does not allow on-campus smoking; is not considering additional security.

WAYNE: Observes state request to ban spanking at least until today, when school board is to consider whether or not to ban; allows on-campus smoking; is not considering additional security.

WELLSTON: Not observing state request to ban spanking; does not allow students to smoke on campus; is not considering additional security.

WESTERN HEIGHTS: Observes state request to ban spanking; allows on-campus smoking in designated areas for adults only; is not considering additional security.

YUKON: Observes state request to ban spanking; does not allow on-campus smoking; is not considering additional security.