Corporal Punishment.
Corporal punishment is reasonable physical punishment that is imposed by teachers and school authorities on pupils when authorized by the school board and when not prohibited by the child's parents. Teachers and administrators in the Pennsylvania public schools are given authority by § 13-1317 of the School Code to have the same authority over the conduct and behavior of their pupils as that exercised by any person in a parental relationship to the pupils, which includes parents and guardians. This statute authorizes the use of corporal punishment so long as a school board complies with the Regulations of the State Board of Education in 22 PA Code § 12.5 governing corporal punishment. In situations where it is prohibited by school board or parents, teachers and school authorities as specified in 22 PA Code § 12.5(a) may still use corporal punishment under certain circumstances.
Even if authorized by school board policy and not prohibited by parents, there are potential adverse consequences in its use by teachers and school authorities. Unauthorized or excessive use of corporal punishment may result in any of the following adverse actions: civil tort action of assault and battery; criminal charges of assault and battery; charges of child abuse filed by the parents; dismissal charges on one of the grounds authorized by statute, such as cruelty, intemperance, wilful violation of school laws, etc; annulment of certificate.
School Code 24 PS § 13-1317
Regulations of the State Board of Education: 22 PA Code § 12.5