Corporal punishment down in Kentucky schools in past decade

(AP) — One Kentucky school district had one-fourth of all corporal punishment incidents in Kentucky public schools last year, according to state figures.

The Lexington Herald-Leader (http://bit.ly/2crx6Yb ) reports that according to the Kentucky Department of Education, there were 574 incidents of corporal punishment, or paddling, in public schools last year.

Bell County leaves it up to principals to decide whether to dish out corporal punishment with parents' permission.

Kentucky School Boards Association spokesman Brad Hughes said corporal punishment was used last year in 25 school districts.