MEMPHIS, Tennessee — As the unified school district continues to evolve in Memphis and Shelby County, it must resolve the issue of spanking.
The Memphis City Schools outlawed corporal punishment in 2004, but it's still among options at the Shelby County Schools.
A proposal to forbid it in the countywide school system stalled Tuesday when the school board asked administrators to bring back the latest research on spanking in schools.
The Commercial Appeal (http://bit.ly/15Vwmh3 ) reported board member Joe Clayton, who spent 40 years as an administrator and principal, wants the option to be available.
"I was never without the authority, if necessary, to administer corporal punishment, and I can't imagine trying to operate a high school and at least have that as a possibility."
Board member David Reaves questioned research showing that corporal punishment has no proven academic or disciplinary benefits.
Interim Superintendent Dorsey Hopson then removed the item from the agenda, so staffers can provide current data on spanking in schools to the board at its work session next Tuesday.
In other action, the board overwhelmingly approved extending the current county schools cellphone policy to all schools.
City schools students couldn't have them. Under the policy, all students can carry cellphones to and from school, but they must be turned off and stored away unless the principal approved using them for specific classroom assignments.
Information from: The Commercial Appeal, http://www.commercialappeal.com
