005 15 CARR 022 s. 6.04

(Note: I don't know the correct way to cite to Arkansas regulations. My apologies if the title of this post is incorrect.)

A. Corporal Punishment: Any teacher or school administrator in a school district that authorizes use of corporal punishment in the district's written student discipline policy may use corporal punishment in the presence of an administrator or his designee, provided only that the punishment is administered in accord with the district's written student discipline policy, against any pupil in order to maintain discipline and order within the public schools.

See Ark. Code Ann. 6-18-503 (Repl. 1993), as amended by Act 333 of 1995. The following guidelines are recommended:

1. Before corporal punishment is administered, the student should be advised of the rule and infraction for which the student may be punished. The student should be allowed time to respond, and then the school administrator should take the action it deems is most appropriate. A formal hearing is not required prior to administering corporal punishment.

2. Parents may choose an option whether their child is given corporal punishment.

I know that Arkansas is not the only state that allows corporal punishment. Nevertheless, it is distressing to see it in black and white. (UPDATE: And, I came across this while searching for "student rights." That's just problematic.)