Corporal Punishment Complaint
Reported by Nina Criscuolo
Nexstar Broadcasting, Inc., November 24, 2010

SOURCE with video clip: http://nwahomepage.com/fulltext-news?nxd_id=201297


Being the new kid in school can come with challenges. Less than two weeks into her sixth grade year 12-year-old Chadie Chancy got into a fight. Rather than three days suspension - she chose three swats.

According to the police report, Chadie was taken into an office with principal Michele Price and dean of students Charles Morton. Morton told her to put her hands on the desk and bend her knees. Chadie says after the first swat she regretted choosing the punishment saying to Morton, "Please stop, I would rather go to the box, I wanted to go back to I.S.S. and then they said you have two more, lets get them done."

The box, or I.S.S., is in school suspension - but because that was no longer an option Chadie says she turned around and put her hands back on the desk.

The swats happened here at Lincoln Middle School and while the superintendent, principal, and Mr. Morton declined to talk about the incident on camera their statements in this police report give a unique perspective on what happened that day.

Principal Michele Price says Chadie did ask to stop because of the pain and was crying, while Morton believes he gave the swats fairly "without any anger or aggression." According to the police report Chadie left school bruised and bleeding.

Chadie's parents, Cindi and Chris, were shocked when they saw the marks left on Chadie's body. Cindi says, "I did authorize three swats but I did not authorize a beating."

According to the Department of Human Services, physical discipline should not cause injury more serious than minor temporary marks. Chadie's parents say photos taken five days after the punishment still show bruising from the swats. The Lincoln P. D. incident report lists Charles Morton as a suspect for third degree battery. But prosecutors decided not to move forward with the charges, a move that does not shock Stephanie Smith with the Social Services Division at Northwest Arkansas Community College.

Smith does not agree with Chadie's punishment and believes corporal punishment can be harmful, humiliating, and even confusing for children.

"If an adult hits an adult we charge it as a crime, if a kid hits a kid we punish the child somehow regardless of how that is, so why is it ok for an adult to hit a kid, it doesn't make sense," says Smith.

And it doesn't make sense to the Chancys, who are continuing to search for answers. Last Monday, the Chancys stood before the school board only to be turned away.

Chris says,"I feel like the system quit somewhere along the way and you know there's still loop holes."

Lincoln school officials say they are looking into the matter. And while they do Charles Morton will continue to act as dean of students.

But after more than two months of waiting for the process to produce results, the Chancys say their 12-year-old is still trying to overcome emotional wounds.


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