Board, Superintendent Bartosh, and Parents,

In progressive U S public schools, teachers and administrators are choosing peaceful models of discipline for training children. Beating children with a wooden board had its place in the classroom years ago when it was believed that beating children made them into law abiding, productive adults. Science has proven that beating children produces emotional, psychological, and mental scars that prevail into adulthood. Seldom do victims remember the offense they committed but they remember the humiliation and pain.

In our modern day, people accept scientific evidence as the final answer for discrepancies concerning health issues. Why are you ignoring the abundant scientific evidence that says the practice of beating children causes harm, while there is no evidence for its good ? As spokesperson for the Wharton County Community, we request that you ban corporal punishment in this district immediately.

When teachers spank children it can be sexual, racist, even emotional instability. I brought to Supt. Bartosh’s, attention that the administrators are spanking girls who are on their menstrual cycle and wearing feminine products. Mr. Bartosh showed no outrage nor concern. When I asked if he would want someone to spank his daughter when she was on her cycle, he looked at me and smiled, giving no verbal response.

This sick, barbaric practice, primarily targeted at black and brown children in this community, must stop.

Ms. Flowe spoke to Texas State Representative Dora Olivo informing her of the conversation she had with Mr. Bartosh. She told her that she is going to support Ms. Flowe fully and thanked her for her work. She asked what would Ms. Flowe like for her to do to help. Ms. Flowe replied with these three things:

Number one: Have Mr. Black evaluated for possible emotional instability or other psychological disorders. He appeared to be unstable when I met him, never once making eye contact and dashing down the hallway to avoid holding our scheduled 12:45 pm appointment. If he thinks that bending little girls over his desk behind closed doors with a male witness is appropriate, why wouldn’t he want to enlighten me as to why? I also asked Ms. Olivo to have each paddling that Mr. Black executed this school year investigated for proper protocol.

Number two: Supt. Bartosh was told that girls are being paddled even when they are wearing feminine products. He said he would look into this. I asked Ms. Olivo to follow up on his investigation.

Number three: I asked that Ms. Olivo assure the parents of this community and their children that they will be protected from any retaliation from the Wharton Independent School District toward them for standing up for their children’s rights.

Ms. Olivo said she would look into seeing how she could help Ms. Flowe with each request.

Ms. Flowe has three questions this evening:

The first question is to the Wharton County parents: Are you willing to band together and see to it that your children are safe and happy in the Wharton Independent School District? If so, please contact me at TheHittingStopsHere.com

The second question is to Mr. Bartosh: We are currently doing a survey across the 21 paddling states asking superintendents why they are keeping child-beating on their books instead of training their teachers to use proven, peaceful models of discipline. Mr. Bartosh, we will place your reason for keeping corporal punishment on the books in the Wharton Spectator Journal. Would you please email your response to me?

My third question is to Mr. Black. Mr. Black, you are a man of at least 300 pounds. You have spanked girls for not bringing signed notes to school, tardiness, and for saying little things that children say. None of these reasons follow Wharton Independent School District policy. Do you experience an erection when you and Mr. Boyette spank these little girls over your desk, and will you stop?

Thank you.

February 17, 2009

To Texas State Representative, Ms. Dora Olivo,

Thank you for your efforts! We will stand with you! We know that you are up against strong resistance, just as we have been. Please continue bravely to bring change to Texas public school classrooms.

Thank you and God bless you.

The Hitting Stops Here!