It is true that corporal punishment is still legally permitted in many U.S. schools—though not nationwide. Here's a detailed breakdown:

✅ Legal status

• There is no federal ban on corporal punishment in schools. Instead, it’s governed at the state level, and its constitutionality was affirmed by the Supreme Court in Ingraham v. Wright (1977), which ruled that the Eighth Amendment does not apply to school discipline The New Yorker+15Wikipedia+15nea.org+15.

• As of 2024, corporal punishment remains legal in 17 U.S. states for public schools, and in many others, private schools can still use it. It’s explicitly banned in both public and private schools in only a handful (~5 states) Wikipedia+1.

States permitting corporal punishment in public schools (as of 2025):

Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Wyoming LegalClarity+2U.S. Department of Education+2.

• In some states (e.g., Kentucky), the law technically allows it, but school districts have banned it locally, creating a de facto ban Bellwether+6LegalClarity+6nea.org+6.

• Some states have no explicit bans but effectively prohibit it via policy nea.orgWikipedia.

🧑‍🏫 How prevalent is it?

• In the 2017–18 school year, nearly 70,000 students in public schools were physically punished (e.g. paddled) Reddit+13Bellwether+13nea.org+13.

• Usage is concentrated in southern states such as Mississippi, Alabama, Texas, and Arkansas, which account for the great majority of reported cases Reddit+4Bellwether+4usnews.com+4.

• Though legal in 17–20 states, only a subset of school districts actually practice it—and many others have discontinued it entirely nea.orgBellwether.

⚠️ Impact and opposition

• Major health and child welfare organizations—including the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the World Health Organization (WHO)—strongly oppose corporal punishment, citing links with worse mental health outcomes, increased aggression, and racial and disability-based disparities Wikipedia+15publications.aap.org+15Verywell Family+15.

• Data show Black students and students with disabilities are disproportionately affected by corporal punishment in schools LegalClarity+15publications.aap.org+15Teen Vogue+15.

✅ Short answer

Yes — in many U.S. states, especially in the South, corporal punishment in public schools remains legal as of mid‑2025. While the practice is on the decline and widely opposed by experts, it has not been universally banned.

Fonte: ChatGPT