Schools throughout Louisiana paddle children as a form of punishment, but a state representative is working to make it illegal.

Hitting a child with a paddle is legal in about 20 states, including the entire Arklatex. "The principal had her bend over and touch the chair and get paddled five times," Midway Elementary Student Brittany Butler said.

The Caddo middle school student knows how corporal punishment works. She witnessed another child being paddled just two months ago, for acting up. "She was flipping off teacher and jumping on desks."

According to the Caddo Parish handbook, principals can paddle a child just three times, using extreme caution. "For some students, the threat of being paddled is enough to keep them in line." Linear Teacher Cedric Choyce said.

Choyce says he's paddled students before, and as a child, he experienced it firsthand. "I felt pain coming on but it didn't scar me to the point I would fear the pain.”

Many parents don't want educators spanking their children. "I'm not against them being disciplined, but we don't know who's going to be spanking your child and the force that they're going to use." Leah Carter, of Bossier Parish, requested no paddling for her sons. Most schools in our area allow parents to make that decision. "I don't have a problem with my children being paddled in school because it gives them a sense that they have to respect the authority of teachers and principals," Caddo Parish Mom Danielle Butler said.

But striking can get out of hand. Caddo Parish is investigating three teachers for impermissible corporal punishment, according to the Caddo Federation of Teachers. "Paddling out of anger, that's when you get carried away and some kids get abused," Choyce said.

Teachers say corporal punishment doesn’t happen often. Bossier paddled 40 students in 2008.
Desoto does it about 4 times a month, and Caddo says it's rare. But the effect can last for years, according to a Shreveport psychologist. "They don't feel comfortable in school, they feel threatened often times, growing into adulthood this leaves emotional scars,” Dr. Gerald Baker said.

Scars that's State Representative Barbara Norton hopes don’t touch another child. She's working on a bill to end corporal punishment in Louisiana. "I’m concerned not only about my grandchild, I’m concerned about all children." Norton says she hopes her bill will strike down paddling.

A 1977 supreme court ruling didn't find paddling as cruel and unusual punishment.
Without a national law banning it, the decision is left up to states.