>>There are other ways to punish students besides hitting them and thus convincing them that force is the only thing that matters. While corporal punishment might be effective with little kids, what happens when you're a 5' 0", 100 lb. woman teaching a 6' 4", 250 lb. linebacker. You better be able to discipline him with words and behaviors, 'cause you sure as heck can't overpower him.
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>>Good teachers and schools know how to use discipline effectively without corporal punishment.
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>The idea is to teach them discipline before they become 6'4" 250 gorilla. :-)

Agreed, and that's my point. If you teach little kids that the biggest, strongest person wins (which is what corporal punishment does), then when they become the biggest, strongest person, you're in trouble.

If you instead teach them that behaving badly has negative consequences and behaving well has rewards, it doesn't matter how big they get.

Tamar