OK Allows Corporal Punishment For Disabled Students

The New Republic reports:

A just society would not allow teachers to hit disabled kids at school. Sounds reasonable enough, right? Well, Oklahoma Republicans disagree.

On Tuesday, the Oklahoma House, in which Republicans have a supermajority, voted against House Bill 1028, which would have outlawed school district personnel from “using corporal punishment on any student identified with a disability in accordance with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.”

After lawmakers read Bible verses and talked about the need for physical discipline, the measure failed to proceed by a vote of 45-43. “The rod and reproof give wisdom. But a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame,” said Republican Representative Jim Olsen.

Read the full article.

Olsen is a Sunday school teacher. He last appeared on JMG when he compared abortion to slavery.

Yesterday, the GOP-controlled Oklahoma House voted down a bill that would have banned school district personnel from “using corporal punishment on any student identified with a disability in accordance with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.” https://t.co/XoFb0jVsuK

— The New Republic (@newrepublic) March 15, 2023