According to an official from the Child
Welfare Department, if a parent inflicted
bruises like this on his child, it would
be considered child abuse.
Ironically, 11 year old Anthony Martyn's
bruises won't be reported because he got
them from a school administrator.
Tattling is legal in Texas.
In fact, one in four paddlings in US
schools happens in Texas.
I don't believe that's the way to
encourage or to discipline children.
And I am not opposed to spanking.
I'm opposed to Palin in schools where it
gets out of hand.
Jim Martin, who is a teacher himself,
once his son transferred to another
classroom, the paddling happened last
Friday. Anthony says he didn't do his
homework and he misbehaved.
He hasn't been back to school since.
He says he's afraid.
I feel more free because
I'm afraid he's going to pick on me or
something. I'll go to school and it
worries me and then I can't do my
work, so I keep thinking about that.
A local psychotherapist says that
paddling is not effective.
Is abuse and bills kids with fear,
shame and guilt?
The principal in Anthony's grade school
doesn't agree.
If you tried other methods of discipline
and haven't, uh, been successful,
uh, there just
times when it's, uh,
one's appropriate and effective.
If you're a parent, you have a right to
tell your school whether you want your
child paddled or not.
Mary Anne Connor Channel 5 News tonight, Garland.