Does New House Bill Encourage Spanking?

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The Missouri House of Representatives recently passed House Bill 1722 on Feb. 13.

According to STL Today, sponsor Maynard Wallace, R-Thornfield, said the bill “ties up some loose ends.”

The bill allows the St. Louis school district to consider a dress code or uniforms.

It also protects school employees from litigation if they follow school board safety policy.

“We don’t want any school employee, be it an administrator, bus driver or custodian, to hesitate in doing the right thing,” Wallace said.

The bill also tightens regulations on spanking. It requires another person to be present and clarifies that the spanker is protected only if there is no allegation of sexual abuse.

It also bans suspended students from off-campus school activities and allows schools to tell teachers about students’ violent activities.

The bill is HB 96 and now has to pass the Senate.

Is this Bill a deterrent for school violence?  Or does it encourage teachers and staff to hand down more extreme punishment than they might in the past?  What do you think?