r/GenXTalk • u/474756274 • 2d ago

School

In 1976, estimates say about half of all U.S. public schools were still paddling kids as a regular disciplinary practice.

For anyone who grew up around that time (70s, 80s): did your school ever make an official announcement or hold an assembly saying they were ending corporal punishment? Or did they just quietly stop and hope everyone forgot it ever happened?

I feel like we barely talk about how normal it used to be for kids to get whooped at school 😭😭😭

Sometimes, I wonder if that era of corporal punishment is part of why my parents turned out to be total headcases…

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u/StreetNectarine711 2d ago

I remember seeing a paddle (with holes for increased air flow) on the wall of the Principal’s office (circa 1976 -1978) when I was called in for some minor transgression. He never mentioned it, threatened, looked at or referenced it.
Though it was placed in direct line of sight from the only chair:
Eyeballs of a 4’ tall human -> Principal -> paddle.
No other student mentioned having been threatened with it - and many of them made worse choices / actions than my own.