The suit, however, does not seek to outlaw corporal punishment, which is strongly supported in the South. Currently they do not. And it argues that at least in Toombs County, stronger steps should be taken to limit a practice that, some contend, has sanctioned child abuse in the schools. The Miller saying that they sought the ACLU's help only after the local school board refused to grant them a hearing. But Toombs County Superintendent Johnie Sikes said last week that she had investigated Brian's case and determined the boy's punishment had not been excessive.
Many students bruise easily.
Mallory, head basketball coach and assistant football coach at the school for the past four years, refused to comment last week on Brian's paddling. In recent years, there have been other protests by Georgia parents against excessive corporal punishment. Three years ago, Fannin County parents unsuccessfully sought to outlaw a policy allowing teachers to paddle children for failing to complete their homework. Nine states and a number of large, urban school systems have banned corporal punishment. Organizations such as the American Medical Association have taken formal stances against it.