The Associated Press, July 17, 1998Alabama Schools Still Practice Paddling
Parents who believe in old-fashioned discipline might want to enroll their kids in Alabama schools.
Most Alabama schools allow corporal punishment.
City schools in Birmingham this week banned paddling of students, but they're in the minority.
Of the 121 school systems responding to a 1995 survey, only nine banned corporal punishment.
Shelby County is among those using paddles. Superintendent Bill Sparks tells the Birmingham Post-Herald that paddling students ``lets them know there are rules to follow.'' He says sparing the rod spoils the child.
His district does require a parent's written permission to paddle a student.