Parents of student who was paddled file suit against Groveton ISD

Alleging school officials physically abused their son and violated his civil rights, the parents of a former Groveton ISD student have filed a lawsuit in Lufkin's U.S. District Court.

[Tacoma]

I went to school in Groveton why are you crying because your kid got what he needed. If he wasn't acting out he wouldn't have had anything to worry about. I'm for kid's getting their a _ s paddled, because that's the only way teacher can control their class for others to learn.

[twomanytat2s]

i also went to groveton, and got my fair share of butt whippings. and for those who say it teaches a kid to hit, they know that at age 2. they fight over toys, pets, and anything else they want. i think the problem in groveton is they dont paddle enough kids. that would get the kids attention. if like me, and they got one at school then one at home, it is definately worth it to avoid one at school.

[Jane]

No wonder Texas is such a violent state. You beat little children, who then turn into angry adults who use violence on others. All the research supports the connection between hitting children and later tendencies toward violence to others. Hitting children is associated with being less educated, and with depression and drug addiction.

Pity the children of Texas! More schoolchildren are beaten than in any other US state. There's a good reason nearly every industrialized country besides the US has abolished school beatings: it produces violent people, less academic progress, and leads to injuries and lawsuits.

When will Texas wake up? Groveton is a pit of child abuse.

[Stan]

Jane, I don't mean to sound rude but since you live in Canada please keep your comments to yourself. I would love to see where you were trying to quote from because the facts are you don'r know much about school children. I grew up in Florida and was subject to getting a correction every once in a while and I believe it made me understand that the world is not about me! My wife is a teacher at a school here in Texas that does not allow paddle corrections in school and let me tell you those teachers pay the price. I would like to know when did trying to correct the bad behaviour of a errant child become abuse? Under your assuption that Texans are a cess pool of abuse I would assume that you have lived here at some time of your life, and if you had you would realize one thing and that is us Texans don't like people that don't live here tell us how to live. " Don't mess with Texas" means something here. So with that being said " Don't come back ya hear!"

Jane wrote:

No wonder Texas is such a violent state. You beat little children, who then turn into angry adults who use violence on others. All the research supports the connection between hitting children and later tendencies toward violence to others. Hitting children is associated with being less educated, and with depression and drug addiction.
Pity the children of Texas! More schoolchildren are beaten than in any other US state. There's a good reason nearly every industrialized country besides the US has abolished school beatings: it produces violent people, less academic progress, and leads to injuries and lawsuits.
When will Texas wake up? Groveton is a pit of child abuse.

[texas ex]

What those paddlings do is mold kids into adults with hateful attitudes like you!

[Stan]

Please list studies supporting the correction of a child with corporal punishment I.E. paddlings that would make them hateful. I myself was corrected as a child and now I am thankful that my parents loved me enough to correct me.

I would love to see your studies or know if it is just your own personal beliefs. If it is your own personal beliefs that's cool because this is America and you have your right to think as you want, but please don't think I am hateful because I am not. I have been a big brother in the big brothers/Big Sisters program, I am now a Pastor at a church that reaches out to help a lot of people and the people that know me would tell you that I am a very compassionate person.

I do believe that there is a difference of correction of a child and the beating of a child. Child abuse should never be accepted and I believe that child abusers should receive the full punishment to the letter of the Law, but spanking or paddling is not abuse that will scar a child but will teach him or her that there are consequences to their actions. Without them knowing what is acceptable what is going to stop them from making huge mistakes in their lives? Think about it how is not disciplining a child setting them up for success in the future?

texas ex wrote:

What those paddlings do is mold kids into adults with hateful attitudes like you!

[Beth]

After viewing the pics and reading the story anyone who sides with the school in this matter is an idiot.Proof is in the picture,if a parent spanked their child and left these marks,you can bet the parents would be getting a visit from child protective services.However,since the school inflicted this damage it is acceptable.Had it been my kid....a lawsuit would be the last thing they would have to worry about.

Tacoma wrote:

I went to school in Groveton why are you crying because your kid got what he needed. If he wasn't acting out he wouldn't have had anything to worry about. I'm for kid's getting their a _ s paddled, because that's the only way teacher can control their class for others to learn.

[ROY AUSTIN SMITH]

Jane wrote:

No wonder Texas is such a violent state. You beat little children, who then turn into angry adults who use violence on others. All the research supports the connection between hitting children and later tendencies toward violence to others. Hitting children is associated with being less educated, and with depression and drug addiction.
Pity the children of Texas! More schoolchildren are beaten than in any other US state. There's a good reason nearly every industrialized country besides the US has abolished school beatings: it produces violent people, less academic progress, and leads to injuries and lawsuits.
When will Texas wake up? Groveton is a pit of child abuse.

When will Canada wake up?

[Tootie]

I am a firm beleiver in corporal punishment. I was raised with getting my behind busted if I did something wrong. I also feel that if you read your BIBLE you will plainly see in scripture that it says "Spare the rod spoil the child". No it did not say beat them, I don't beleive in beating them black and blue, but if they need their behind busted it will happen. If I had a child in school I would allow pops due to the fact that I would be leaving my child in their hand to teach them and discipline them. Yes I am an ex-student of Groveton, Tx and I turned out just fine. If more people would discipline their children and do it the right way, these children would have better morals and would know what's right and wrong. There would also be alot less in the prison systems.

[Worried Mother]

Jane wrote:

No wonder Texas is such a violent state. You beat little children, who then turn into angry adults who use violence on others. All the research supports the connection between hitting children and later tendencies toward violence to others. Hitting children is associated with being less educated, and with depression and drug addiction.
Pity the children of Texas! More schoolchildren are beaten than in any other US state. There's a good reason nearly every industrialized country besides the US has abolished school beatings: it produces violent people, less academic progress, and leads to injuries and lawsuits.
When will Texas wake up? Groveton is a pit of child abuse.

It's funny you say all this. I guess Texas could be considered a violent state. Especially when it comes to beatings. I remember when I was a kid in school. The boys would have fist fights, and sometimes the girl would too. Our teachers would send us to the office for "POPS", and of course that ever dreaded note to the parents. Yeah, I got beat when I got home. The funny thing about all of it is, come Friday night everybody hung out at "the spot". When I say everybody, it includes the two that fist fought the frustations out. Now days, the frustrations are taken out with violence as well, but ya know, you don't see everybody at "the spot" on Friday night. Friday night is for the memorial of the 15 classmates you just lost. Now I ask you to tell me what has changed that made life this way. The laws have taken authority and control away from parents and teachers. I fear for my childs life everyday because of opinions like yours. I realize opinions such as yours developed due to another problem in this world, but the opinion has created a bigger, and deadlier problem. Thank you for adding to my worries as a mother.

[Worried Mother]

texas ex wrote:

What those paddlings do is mold kids into adults with hateful attitudes like you!

And not paddling them molds them into the hellion you see today. You know the ones who carry guns to school, and kill my child because he wears a nicer brand of jeans. We didn't have the hateful attitudes when I was a kid. Oh we were kids, as all kids are. BUT WE ALSO HAD PADDLING!!!! HMMMMMM

[ROY AUSTIN SMITH]

Stan wrote:

Jane, I don't mean to sound rude but since you live in Canada please keep your comments to yourself. I would love to see where you were trying to quote from because the facts are you don'r know much about school children. I grew up in Florida and was subject to getting a correction every once in a while and I believe it made me understand that the world is not about me! My wife is a teacher at a school here in Texas that does not allow paddle corrections in school and let me tell you those teachers pay the price. I would like to know when did trying to correct the bad behaviour of a errant child become abuse? Under your assuption that Texans are a cess pool of abuse I would assume that you have lived here at some time of your life, and if you had you would realize one thing and that is us Texans don't like people that don't live here tell us how to live. " Don't mess with Texas" means something here. So with that being said " Don't come back ya hear!" <quoted text>

Amen Amen from another Texan

[Justice1st]

Tacoma wrote:

I went to school in Groveton why are you crying because your kid got what he needed. If he wasn't acting out he wouldn't have had anything to worry about. I'm for kid's getting their a _ s paddled, because that's the only way teacher can control their class for others to learn.

Tacoma, I agree with part of your comment. I too, went to Groveton, Elem. and High School. The problem I have with this type of disciple is that it cannot be regulated (by regulated, you cannot gage how hared the child is being hit). I remember when student knew that there were teachers you did not want to be hit my, Mrs. Evans, Ms. Fortenberry, Mr. Fortenberry, and I don't think any of us will ever forget when Drew's mother took Coaches paddle and hit him in he head when he left bruises on his lower back.
Unfortunately, a man or woman who feels that violence of any sort solves the problem is not looking for a proper solution. Whle today a parent can be charged with assault for the very same thing.
When a teacher is upset with whatever is going on in their personal life, or simply having a bad day, can hit a student harder then perceived or really intended and the damage can be life changing. If discipline is to be carried out, this is 2007, find another way.
I agree with spanking my Childs behind, I just don't use an 18" x 2.12" board to do it. They are teachers, so teach them by setting the example that violence DOES NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM.
Tacoma, because your chose to refer to it as beating their ass, only points out that adults do not always make proper decisions.

[Justice1st]

opps: my bad I am typing at the airport. Forgive the typo's.

[Anger]

There are many various opinions to each of these posts. The different perspectives here on the use of physical discipline toward a child. And yet those who oppose it offer no solution, or alternative to it. I belive in the use of discipline for correction but yet see a problem with allowing the teacher to discipline the child rather then a third party school administrator who would do so with out anger, maybe thats the solution. The idea that some are going to is suspensions and expulsions, which only teach them there is a reward for misbehaving. Other than the use of physical discipline what better methods are there?

[Kelli]

Justice1st wrote:

<quoted text>
Tacoma, I agree with part of your comment. I too, went to Groveton, Elem. and High School. The problem I have with this type of disciple is that it cannot be regulated (by regulated, you cannot gage how hared the child is being hit). I remember when student knew that there were teachers you did not want to be hit my, Mrs. Evans, Ms. Fortenberry, Mr. Fortenberry, and I don't think any of us will ever forget when Drew's mother took Coaches paddle and hit him in he head when he left bruises on his lower back.
Unfortunately, a man or woman who feels that violence of any sort solves the problem is not looking for a proper solution. Whle today a parent can be charged with assault for the very same thing.
When a teacher is upset with whatever is going on in their personal life, or simply having a bad day, can hit a student harder then perceived or really intended and the damage can be life changing. If discipline is to be carried out, this is 2007, find another way.
I agree with spanking my Childs behind, I just don't use an 18" x 2.12" board to do it. They are teachers, so teach them by setting the example that violence DOES NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM.
Tacoma, because your chose to refer to it as beating their ass, only points out that adults do not always make proper decisions.

I completely agree with you....I had "POPS" from Mr Fortenberry and Mrs. Evans---and had bruises that was horrible but a popular girl who was "IN" at the time did the samethings I did in front of the teachers and nothing was done to her (I don't have the attitude that just because I was in trouble I wanted her to get hit too), but thats why I agree with you that they cannot be regulated. And thats the only problem I have with it, if a teacher doesn't 'like' a student -- they have a better chance of getting paddled than a kid whose parents are friends with the teacher, etc.. Nor can you judge how hard a teacher is paddling a student...some hard, some soft, some just rediculas...

[Taylor]

I speak at schools on occasion and I am involved in our Youth Basketball and Baseball programs. Kids today are so disrespectful. I have had a four year old call me a b****(without ever saying a word to him) and I have seen Pre-K up to sixth graders curse at their teachers, tell them they are going to beat them, kill them, etc. This is in as small town as you can get. Yet we wonder why we have a problem in hiring quality teachers. I have seen Private school teachers come to public schools only to leave a year later because of the behavior of the children and parents. In as early as elementary we would receive licks if we were tardy three times. I can remember my second grade teacher had a paddle and she only used it maybe once or twice. We were scared to misbehave.

Kids today are taught that no one can touch them if they misbehave. That if they do get into trouble they will be sent on vacation. Either by being expelled to their xboxes and cable or sent to ISS where they can sleep all day or scribble on paper all day. My child knows that if he gets in trouble at school and all he gets is lunch detention or can't play at recess he better know he will get a spanking and get grounded when he gets home.

There is no way I could ever be a teacher. I could not handle the disrespect that so many children today show towards them. There is one class in our elementary that over half of the kids have been diagonised with ADD.

Maybe the solution should be the parent has to come to the school and give the licks or some other gardian or family member. Every year the school makes you sign a form to say if they can spank your child or not.

I don't know the facts of the situation with the teacher in Groveton, but I do know what I see in the children that are growning up. I am scared for the future of our country!

[JMEBLA]

I think that paddling is a decission left up to the parent. If a parent is okay with paddling they should not be allowed to later say they are going to sue the school. Yes "pops" do leave marks we all know this from when we had them growing up what is so different when it leaves a mark on your child butt. I see poeple all the time here in our nacogdoches walmart hitting their children some even in the face and its the same mothers don't there screaming that the school shouldn't. The school should be able to get kids to behave in the classrooms. I do not allow the school to paddle my child. I am a homemaker and if my child needs it I do it. I have went to the school on more than one time to whip my child so she could return to the classroom.

[Parent]

Tacoma wrote:

I went to school in Groveton why are you crying because your kid got what he needed. If he wasn't acting out he wouldn't have had anything to worry about. I'm for kid's getting their a _ s paddled, because that's the only way teacher can control their class for others to learn.

It sadens Me that there is People like You out in the real world that would do something to a Child so horrifing, This is barbarric and inhumane, You can't do this to a dog on the street,Or prisoners in the state penn that YOU pay taxes on. Why would you back a school district up, Did You see His bloody butt!!!!!!???? No You did not, If You don't have nothing else better to say then STAY OFF THIS FOURM!!! WHY DON'T YOU GO PLAY IN TRAFFIC STUPID!!!!!!

[Parent]

YOU DONT KNOW WHAT YOUR TALKING ABOUT THERE ARE SCHOOL'S IN TEXAS I KNOW FOR A FACT THAT BEAT THE KIDS JUST TO SEE THEM BLEED IV SEE IN DONE I ALSO WORK IN A TX SCHOOL DIST. SHAME ON U !!!!!!!!!!

Stan wrote:

Jane, I don't mean to sound rude but since you live in Canada please keep your comments to yourself. I would love to see where you were trying to quote from because the facts are you don'r know much about school children. I grew up in Florida and was subject to getting a correction every once in a while and I believe it made me understand that the world is not about me! My wife is a teacher at a school here in Texas that does not allow paddle corrections in school and let me tell you those teachers pay the price. I would like to know when did trying to correct the bad behaviour of a errant child become abuse? Under your assuption that Texans are a cess pool of abuse I would assume that you have lived here at some time of your life, and if you had you would realize one thing and that is us Texans don't like people that don't live here tell us how to live. " Don't mess with Texas" means something here. So with that being said " Don't come back ya hear!" <quoted text>