Corporal punishment is legal in 19 states and one of them is Florida, but not every district permits paddling.
     One newly elected Marion County School Board member plans on bringing back paddling.

"I think the idea of a spanking by a person that's not a parent can be humiliating, they don't want that humiliation," said Marianne Jackson.

Jackson of Ocala has an 8-year-old boy who is in third grade. She said she was paddled in school and doesn't mind if her kid gets a spank at his school if he does something wrong.

"Pop them on the butt. It's a quick shock they are like Iam in trouble and they realize it," said Jackson.
 

Paddling is currently banned in Marion County, but newly elected school board member Carol Ely wants to bring corporal punishment back.
At least in Marion County elementary schools.

"Corporal punishment was a very effective alternative when nothing else worked," said Ely.

Ely believes the punishment of paddling is a way to keep students in school.

"Out of school suspension for elementary students especially they tend to go home and play video games. It's a vacation for them it's not a punishment," said Ely.

Others disagree with the idea of reinstating paddling in Marion County.
Superintendent Jim Yancey feels there is no good reason to paddle a kid and said there is a great possibility that legal costs would go up.
Even if the parents agree to the paddling.

"If they get paddled and they bruise it doesn't matter what that sheet of paper says. If they think you've over reacted a principal or anybody else overacted with paddling. I just think it's an issue," said Yancey.

He said it's an issue that could affect parents, children and employees.

"I think our principals who do it are putting themselves at risk and the district should not be allowing principals to do it," said Yancey.

Ely will take office in November and plans to bring up the issue of corporal punishment in the spring.