REPORT: SCHOOL DISCIPLINE WAS NOT CHILD ABUSE

A Cape Girardeau elementary student who was paddled at school was not abused by the discipline, according to investigations by the school district and the state division of youth services.

The Board of Education meet in closed session Thursday at noon to formally receive the reports, as outlined by a new law concerning corporal punishment in schools.

Interim superintendent James Englehart explained that the student was paddled at school by an administrator. The child's parent took the child to the hospital, and a hospital employee called the state child abuse hotline.

Englehart said, "State law requires that any time a hotline call is made relating to possible abuse caused by corporal punishment, it has to be investigated by two agencies, by the school system and juvenile department in our state."

Investigators with both organizations looked at the school policy, interviewed the administrator involved, the child, the parent and the professional witness.

"The two independent investigations found no evidence of abuse," Englehart said.

He said both investigations found that the school district's corporal punishment policy was also followed in this instance.

The investigations must take place within seven days of the call and their reports must be received by the school board of education within seven days of completion.

"That's why we called a special executive meeting," Englehart said. "We didn't have a regular board meeting scheduled within that time."

He said the meeting was closed because it deals with the discipline of a child.

After receiving these reports, Englehart said, the school board must file a report with the state Department of Family Services.

Englehart said this is the first time the school district has been involved in this type of investigation. The law outlining procedure went into affect in 1990.

Missouri allows corporal punishment in schools at each district's discretion. Cape Girardeau lists corporal punishment among discipline options.

Englehart said the district's policy "indicates that it has to be done without malice in a very professional way."

Parents must be notified that their child has been paddled.

The policy says a child may receive one to four swats on the buttock by an administrator or his designate with another certified staff member as a witness.

A teacher cannot paddle a child in the classroom.

Paddling is among discipline options ranging from informal talks with a child to expulsion.