HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 2654

BYRepresentatives Cole, Valle, R. King, Anderson, Scott, Pruitt, Wood, Rust, Basich, Nelson, Belcher, R. Fisher, Dellwo, G. Fisher, Jacobsen, Spanel, Nutley, Wineberry, Fraser, Prentice, Leonard, Wang, Phillips, Holland, Horn, Van Luven, Jones and Brekke

Adopting a policy prohibiting corporal punishment.

House Committe on Education

Majority Report:  Do pass.  (16)

      Signed by Representatives Peery, Chair; G. Fisher, Vice Chair; Betrozoff, Ranking Republican Member; Brumsickle, Cole, Dorn, Holland, Horn, Jones, P. King, Pruitt, Rasmussen, Rayburn, Schoon, Valle and Walker.

Minority Report:  Do not pass.  (2)

      Signed by Representatives Fuhrman and K. Wilson.

House Staff:Susan Patrick (786-7111)

AS PASSED HOUSE FEBRUARY 9, 1990

BACKGROUND:

School districts are authorized by the State Board of Education to utilize corporal punishment to discipline children within the public schools so long as witnesses are present, excessive or cruel and unusual punishment is not used, and the child is not punished in front of anyone other than the witness.

SUMMARY:

The State Board of Education is directed to develop and adopt a policy prohibiting the use of corporal punishment in the schools.  The policy shall be adopted no later than December 1, 1990, and take effect in all school districts no later than September 1, 1991. In developing the policy, the State Board of Education shall consult with the Superintendent of Public Instruction.

Fiscal Note:      Not Requested.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    Robert G. Scherz, M.D., Washington State Society of Pediatrics and Washington Chapter of American Association of Pediatrics; Margaret Martinez, Alliance for Children, Youth and Families; Karen Bachelder, Committee for Children; Don Johnson, Superintendent of Public Instruction; Leann Chaney, Washington State Parent and Teacher Association; Lonnie Johns-Brown, Washington Association of Child Abuse Councils; Tom Eiseman, Tumwater School District; Kris Van Gorkom, Washington Association of School Administrators; Walter Ball, Association of Washington School Principals; Karen Hulbert, Stop Abuse; and Bob Maier, Washington Education Association.

House Committee - Testified Against:      No one.

House Committee - Testimony For:    Twenty states now prohibit the use of corporal punishment in schools and the United States is the only industrialized country that continues to allow its use in schools. This concept has been discussed for many years.  Gradually all members of the education community have adopted a position supporting the prohibition of corporal punishment. For some children, school is the only place to learn that there are alternatives to physical violence in dealing with problems.  We should not deliver the message that it is all right to hit people who are smaller, younger or less powerful than you.  Use of corporal punishment is taking the easy way out.  It does not deal with the real problems behind the behavior.  We need to address the real problem.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      None.