Illinois has enacted a landmark ban on corporal punishment in all schools, including private institutions, effective in January. Gov. J.B. Pritzker, D-Ill., signed the bill into law, extending the ban on corporal punishment to private schools in the state, building upon a 30-year-old prohibition already in place for public schools.
In January, Illinois will become the fifth state in the nation to prohibit all forms of physical punishment across all educational institutions. That includes paddling, spanking and hitting.
The American Association of Pediatrics has called for an end to corporal punishment, citing its potential to increase behavioral and mental health problems for children while impairing cognitive development.
The World Health Organization has also taken a strong stance against the practice, declaring it a violation of children’s rights to physical integrity and human dignity.
This comprehensive ban aligns Illinois with New Jersey, Iowa, Maryland and New York.
Currently, 17 states in the U.S. still permit corporal punishment in public schools, with only four of these states prohibiting its use on students with disabilities.
The United States faces international pressure to align with global child protection standards, as it remains the only nation yet to ratify the U.N. Convention on the Rights of the Child.
U.S. Sens. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., and Dick Durbin, D-Ill., are leading the charge for a federal ban on corporal punishment in schools receiving federal funds.
