Date of Award

Spring 5-2018

Degree Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department

Educational Research and Administration

Committee Chair

David Lee

Committee Chair Department

Educational Research and Administration

Committee Member 2

Myron Labat

Committee Member 2 Department

Educational Research and Administration

Committee Member 3

Richard Mohn

Committee Member 3 Department

Educational Research and Administration

Committee Member 4

Kyna Shelley

Committee Member 4 Department

Educational Research and Administration

Committee Member 5

Cheyenne Trussell

Committee Member 5 Department

Educational Research and Administration

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to take a closer look into the perceptions of K-12 teachers on the impact of corporal punishment on students’ academic performance. The qualative data from this study was gained through a survey administered to K-12 teachers from schools in the state of Mississippi that allow corporal punishment and schools that do not allow corporal punishment. The survey was administered to the volunteers after their staff meetings or Professional Learning Communities. The researcher read a brief statement to the participants and collected the surveys after they completed them. Mississippi is one of the states that still allows corporal punishment as an option for discipline in K-12 schools but each local educational agency or school board is permitted to determine if corporal punishment will be allowed in their school district.

Teachers are the primary disciplinarians in a school so this study sought to determine a teachers perceptions of the impact of corporal punishment on a students’ academic performance. The age old practice of paddling and spanking a student has been removed and indicted by several agencies, corporations and educational entities but there are still places where the practice is encouraged and upheld. This study showed that the majority of the teachers who participated in this survey do not perceive corporal punishment to have a positive impact on students’ academic performance.

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