NEW ORLEANS--Faculty, parents, students, and alumni crowded into the St. Augustine High School gym Thursday to talk about discipline. Most of those in the audience want to see the African American Catholic boys school bring back corporal punishment, or paddling, as a form of discipline. While nothing changed after the four-hour long meeting, it opened up dialogue among the people concerned.
For the first time since St. Augustine opened its doors in 1951, the school has not used corporal punishment, which is why the school, Archbishop Gregory Aymond, and the Josephite Society, which governs the school, held a disciplinary town hall meeting to discuss the issue.
Archbishop Aymond told the crowd that no other Catholic school in New Orleans or in the country uses corporal punishment. He said paddling is inconsistent with Catholic ideals and principles. The Archbishop also explained he's received complaints of injuries as a result of the physical discipline.
Rev. Edward Chiffriller of the Josephite General Council said the decision was made before the 2010-2011 school year that corporal punishment is no longer appropriate in Catholic education. He explained the vote is confidential, but he said a majority of members voted to prohibit the practice.
St. Augustine Principal Don Boucree, who is also an alum, explained that since paddling has stopped, the school has seen bullying increase and the number of Saturday detentions on the rise. Boucree also mentioned that the number of students who have been dismissed for discipline reasons has jumped.
The overwhelming majority of people who packed the meeting now want a policy change, including Orleans Civil District Court Judge Kern Reese. Reese said, "we are not everyone else. We don't care about everyone else. This (corporal punishment) works at St. Augustine." In the past, parents have had to sign the school handbook, which would detail the use of corporal punishment.
"I think it (paddling) just helps for some kids that just don't have discipline. I think it instills that you know you're sitting in a classroom and you're disruptive and your only I guess punishment is a demerit, sometimes doesn't work," said St. Augustine alum, Peter Hamilton.
"I think it's a part of discipline. Of course when you're receiving it, you don't think it's fair, but then after it's over, you think about it, and you did something, you broke a rule and got the consequences," said alum Robino Barnes.
"While we expect to have some ongoing dialogue, the stakeholders of the school who are very critical and important to the continued success of the school spoke clearly tonight. We heard their voices and expect to have continued dialogue about that, but we want everyone to know that discipline has always been a hallmark of the St. Augustine educational experience, and it will continue to be a very high priority here regardless of what happens with the discussions going forward," said Daniel Davillier, a school board member, who also chairs the discipline review committee.
"I also believe that this school needs discipline. We're only questioning one part of the discipline, just one, small part, and that's paddling.. Whether we should use corporal punishment or paddling to hit someone. That's the only thing we disagree on," said Archbishop Aymond. He said no one knows what the next step is, but he explained that he's filled with a lot of thoughts, questions and a heaviness of heart.
Posted By: Siebra Muhammad
Friday, February 25th 2011 at 2:54PM
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