On February 18, 2025, W.V. House Delegate, Dave Foggin, introduced a bill that would allow corporal punishment in West Virginia public schools.
The Education Committee received the bill which was assigned the number 2545 on the same day but has not been reviewed as of March 28, 2025.
If passed, House Bill 2545 would allow the administration of West Virginia schools to deliver corporal punishment to students for disciplinary purposes. As mentioned in the bill, teachers could not administer corporal punishment to students.
With the main subject of this bill being discipline in education, it is important to see the impact this bill, if implemented, would have on the education and training of future teachers and administrators at Fairmont State University.
To give some insight on this matter, Toni Polling, Chair of Education at Fairmont State University, said, “It really only impacts administrators. Teachers would not be involved directly in any type of corporal punishment should this bill pass.”
Fairmont State University offers a program for Education Leadership, which could be impacted by bill 2545 if it were to pass.
In regard to this program, Toni Polling said, “If a bill like this were to pass and go into policy, we would absolutely look at the courses that we’re offering and how to best implement a discussion and understanding of the policy based upon State Department guidance.”
To receive insight on the current disciplinary issues in West Virginia schools, the Superintendent of Marion County Schools, Dr. Donna Heston, and Board of Education President, George Boyles, were contacted. However, neither responded to comment on the matter.
The leading sponsor of this bill, Dave Foggin, also did not respond to The Columns to talk about why this bill and form of discipline was necessary in school systems in West Virginia.
Unlike House Bill 2545, another bill passed from the W.V House on March 3, 2025, and was introduced in the senate on March 4, 2025. West Virginia House Bill 2515 also attempts to combat disciplinary issues in the school system. However, this involves teachers removing disruptive students from class rather than administrators conducting corporal punishments. House Bill 2515 is currently pending in the Education committee of the senate, so the timeline for implementation is unknown.
C. K. Brown // Apr 19, 2025 at 12:35 pm
This type of punishment is dangerous. I remember witnessing paddling in elementary school when I was young. It was inhumane and damaging justice to see it administered. It didn’t help the students and it didn’t decrease misbehavior. It only gave the principal power to abuse kids—especially Black students—boys and girls!!!!