While more school systems are banning corporal punishment, it's still allowed in some Tennessee counties, but the Wilson County Board of Education decided to remove corporal punishment as a discipline option.
But Board Member Larry Tomlinson voted to keep corporal punishment on the books, to potentially keep administrators from issuing other forms of punishment like out of school suspension, where Tomlinson says kids aren't learning.
"If it's still in there, then our administrators and teachers have that prerogative that they could use that form of discipline if they wanted to," Tomlinson said.
As the policy was written, there are limits to the corporal punishment in Wilson County schools -- only three strikes, and there has to be another person in the room to witness it.
But other school leaders said the policy wasn't needed any more since it had been years since anyone in Wilson County used Corporal Punishment on a student.
Board Member Larry Joe Inman voted to remove it.
"I'm not sure that it's the most effective way we can discipline our students and hold them accountable," Inman said.
The changes go into effect next school year.
