As of January 1, 2025, Illinois is only the fifth state to ban corporal punishment in schools — both private and public schools.
Shockingly, 17 states technically allow corporal punishment in all schools. Four, however, prohibit its use on students with disabilities. Corporal punishment in schools has negatively impacted students for far too long.
In this Article:
- What is Corporal Punishment in Schools?
- Corporal Punishment is Now Illegal in Illinois
- Impact of Corporal Punishment on Students
- Correlation to Teachers Who Bully Students
- Attorney Larry Disparti Stands Against All Bullying
What is Corporal Punishment in Schools
Corporal punishment in schools is a disciplinary method where a supervising adult intentionally inflicts physical pain on a student in response to unacceptable or inappropriate behavior. The primary objectives of this practice are to immediately stop the misconduct, discourage its repetition, and serve as a deterrent for other students.
While it has been a traditional approach to maintaining discipline, the use of corporal punishment in educational settings is increasingly debated due to concerns about its effectiveness and potential psychological and physical harm to children.
Corporal Punishment is Illegal in Illinois Schools
On January 1, 2025, Governor JB Pritzker signed House Bill 4175 into law banning corporal punishment in all Illinois schools. The practice had already been stopped in public schools by Illinois lawmakers in 1994.
Illinois joins New York, New Jersey, Iowa, and Maryland in prohibiting pain as a form of discipline in schools. Other states, such as North Carolina, do not have a state law banning physical punishment, but every other school district has blocked the practice since 2018.
Impact of Corporal Punishment on Students
The bottom line is that teachers should never want or need to inflict pain on their students as a form of punishment. Research consistently shows that striking children as a form of discipline can lead to significant mental health and emotional problems, including increased anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem. Corporal punishment undermines students’ academic achievement by creating an environment of fear and distress, which can hinder their ability to focus and learn effectively.
Several alternative disciplinary practices have emerged such as restorative justice, an approach that emphasizes accountability, conflict resolution, and fostering a supportive school environment rather than relying on punitive measures.
Black Males and Students With Disabilities Disproportionately Affected
Alarmingly, the American Association of Pediatrics has found that this practice is disproportionately administered to Black male students and those with disabilities. This raises serious equity concerns and emphasizes the urgent need for more compassionate and inclusive discipline strategies.
Correlation to Teachers Who Bully Students
Allowing corporal punishment in schools opens the door to several other forms of mistreatment such as teachers who bully students. The sad truth is that not only do students have to worry about being bullied by their peers, but they also must guard themselves from being bullied by teachers.
One survey found that 45% of teachers admitted to bullying their students. Banning corporal punishment in schools is one added layer of protection for students being bullied by their teachers. With this door closed further steps can be taken to end all bullying in schools once and for all.
Attorney Larry Disparti Stands Against All Bullying
Attorney Larry Disparti is on a mission to end all forms of bullying in Illinois schools. Students deserve a learning environment free of fear and banning corporal punishment in schools is a step in the right direction.
If your child is or has been bullied by a teacher or faced any form of discrimination or physical abuse by a school employee, you may be able to file a civil lawsuit to hold offenders accountable. For a FREE case review, contact one of our skilled attorneys today at (312) 600-6000 and find out why thousands say… Larry wins!