HOW DOES THE USE OF CORPORAL PUNISHMENT IN SCHOOLS AFFECT STUDENTS PSYCHOLOGICALLY?
Corporal punishment, which can be defined as any disciplinary action in which physical force is used to create discomfort or pain in someone, has been seen for centuries. School corporal punishment, utilized as a form of correcting behavior and/or disciplinary action towards students, is illegal in 31 of the 50 states of the United States of America. Yet, thousands of students are still susceptible to this crude form of punishment and it remains federally legal after the Ingraham v Wright Supreme Court case failed to declare corporal punishment as a contradiction of the Eighth Amendment. This study aims to highlight the data explaining why corporal punishment in schools should be ruled as “a cruel and unusual form of punishment” in all 50 states due to the psychological harm it causes on inflicted students. Employing literature review methodology by analyzing multiple experiments and research papers on corporal punishment, it was found that long-term severe psychological disorders, increased aggressive actions, and lowered educational performances are commonly seen in affected students. The data is clear: corporal punishment in schools should be a retired practice.
As the coxswain for the Varsity Crew Team, Sara Pearl can often be found on the local waterways. She is also President of the Pine Crest Art Club and loves to share her talents while celebrating the creativity of her peers. Furthermore, she feels strongly about conservation and sustainability, serving on local and national advocacy boards to provide a teen voice to environmental conservation.
Gaby greatly enjoys being on the Varsity Girl’s Weightlifting and Varsity Girl’s Lacrosse teams throughout high school. She also participates in multiple clubs related to her culture and interests. As an AP Capstone student, she has written various papers throughout the year which she has mostly tied back to psychology and health as she intends to pursue a medical track in college.