The Board Of Education. A Documentary About Corporal Punishment In US Public Schools.

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Corporal punishment was found to be cruel and unusual punishment by the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit in 1968. It is banned in the U.S. military, in correctional facilities and in mental institutions however, use of the paddle is still allowed in many U.S. public schools. More than two hundred thousand students are hit every year by their teachers, principals or coaches with many incidents resulting in injury.

A bill to ban corporal punishment in public schools on a national level has been introduced, but Congress has yet to acknowledge it by enacting this federal legislation. Historically, the paddle was a tool used to beat slaves in order to cause fear and inflict pain. The United States is the only nation in the western world that still permits the use of corporal punishment in its educational system.

The Board Of Education is a documentary that takes an in-depth and personal look at discipline within the American educational system. The film focuses on the three states with the highest percentage of reported students hit, Alabama, Mississippi and Texas. We travel to these states for interviews with politicians, administrators, teachers, parents and students about this polarizing issue.

We raised the funds for our film using Kickstarter. We would not have been able to make this film without the support of the DSLR community and people like you. Today, Kickstarter remains a valid way for filmmakers to raise funds for independent film.

Corporal Punishment is still prevalent in nineteen states with over two hundred thousand students hit every year. What do you do when the teacher is the bully?

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Jared Abrams is a cinematographer based in Hollywood, California. After many years as a professional camera assistant he switched over to still photography. About two years ago a new Canon camera changed the way the world sees both motion and still photography. He just happened to be in the right place at the right time.
  • M Kay Keller

    Wonderful video! Thank you so much on the behalf of children for stepping up to call this issue out! We can make a difference!

  • M Kay Keller

    Considering in the south how many African American children and
    especially boys are physically and emotionally harmed it amazes me we
    are still having this discussion. According to Jordan Riak
    of Project No Spank the origins of paddling are based in the time of
    slavery in this country. Slaves were paddled in order to hide the
    bruising! It incomprehensible to me that we are still having this
    discussion. The buttocks is physically attached to our sexual organs and
    paddling and/or spanking any child is abuse regardless of what the law
    says. This country’s failure to protect it’s children is complicity in
    abuse.