In Many Public Schools, the Paddle Is No Relic

I was pleasantly surprised to learn this morning that corporal punishment is still in use in some schools across the country.

A New York Times story tells of Principal Anthony Price reinstating the paddle at his school in Fort Worth, TX.

“I’m a big fan,” Mr. Price said. “I know it can be abused. But if used properly, along with other punishments, a few pops can help turn a school around. It’s had a huge effect here.”

He goes on to discuss how it's used and why:

Mr. Price said he definitely believed there was a “cultural factor” behind the persistence of corporal punishment in some parts of the country after it has disappeared elsewhere.

“You hear people say, Well, you know, it’s in the Bible, don’t spare the rod and spoil the child,” he said.

He uses it, he said, because he believes it works.

“The rule is, never hit in anger,” Mr. Price said. “We always talk to the child before the punishment, make sure they understand why it’s happening, and then talk to them again afterward. None of it is cold or harsh. We try to treat the kids like they’re our own.”

I had the paddle used on me a few times when I was in school (and yes, it was after we landed on the moon), and it didn't wound me for life. It did motivate me to behave better, I'll tell you that!

If we had more serious punishment for bad behavior, both at home and in school, there'd be a lot less drug use, mouthing off to teachers, kids shooting and knifing each other in school and such as that. And I dare say there'd be a lot more learning going on, too, instead of such a zoo-like atmosphere they have now where teachers are afraid to discipline unruly kids lest their parents sue them.

Dangerous Ignorance

The Gideons who give away free Bibles have not only been banished from our schools, but banished even from sidewalks near our schools

From the Illinois Herald News:

"They were a little too close to impressionable children," said Patricia Cross, principal at Jefferson. "(Gideons representatives) quoted freedom of speech, but I also told them there's separation of church and state."

The funny thing is, you can point to the former in the U.S. Constitution, but you'll never find the latter there.

I find it hard to express how sad--and how frightening--it is that the people of the United States have become not only so ignorant of their Christian heritage, but so ignorant of their own freedoms and their own Constitution that they'd liken handing out a Bible to handing out porn.

George Washington said in his farewell address of 1796

Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports. In vain would that man claim the tribute of patriotism, who should labor to subvert these great pillars of human happiness, these firmest props of the duties of men and citizens...Where is the security for property, for reputation, for life, if the sense of religious obligation desert the oaths which are the instruments of investigation in courts of justice ? And let us with caution indulge the supposition that morality can be maintained without religion. Whatever may be conceded to the influence of refined education on minds of peculiar structure, reason and experience both forbid us to expect that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle.

Are people going to rise up and condemn this rabid secularism before it's too late?

Thune to Vote for Referred Law 6

From the Rapid City Journal today:

Despite his belief that any ban on abortion should include exceptions for rape and incest victims, U.S. Sen. John Thune said Friday that, when he steps into the voting booth in November, he will vote in favor of a referred law that does not contain those exceptions.

Unlike many of the hypocrites in the Left-wing pro-abortion blogosphere (and elsewhere on the Left), Thune doesn't just say he's pro-life, he demonstrates it.

Even though he hasn't yet worked out the logic for himself that a child conceived of rape deserves the same chance to live as any other child, and shouldn't be punished for his/her father's crimes, he nevertheless places the priority on saving lives over his reservations about exceptions.

There are many who are otherwise pro-life who haven't thought out the question of exceptions for rape, etc.

Then there are others who have never seen the abortion they'd condemn, yet like cowards and hypocrites hide behind the fact that Referred Law 6 doesn't have an exception that allows an abortion at any time after an alleged rape and with no proof. (Though it does have a common-sense provision allowing emergency contraception within a few days of a rape).

I have no real problem with the person who just hasn't taken the time to think out the issue fully--other than they need to take that time on such an important issue--but anyone who knows darn well they simply want to keep abortion legal and are using this as an excuse to hide behind (which includes many if not most of those actively campaigning against Referred Law 6), they're pathetic cowards who don't even have the guts to come out in the open and defend their position. They aren't even worth listening to.

The "Bribing You With Your Own Money" Initiative

South Dakota Democrats came out yesterday with their "Common Grounds" initiative. The Rapid City Journal described it as

a pledge to cut the growth of state government, increase aid to education and dip into budget reserves to help farmers and ranchers struggling with drought.

The article further said

They denied that they would raise taxes and said their Common Ground campaign would address key economic, educational and health needs in the state while avoiding abortion, same-sex marriage and other divisive social issues.

Knowing how things invariably work with the Left, I'd call it the "Bribing You With Your Own Money to Ignore Anything Moral" Initiative.

Will it entice voters? We'll find out in a few weeks, won't we?

Negative Learning

This goes along way in explaining the "mainstream" media...and liberal blogs.