Corporal Punishment

I really need to know how people feel about corporal punishment at schools. Here's an article of interest on this issue...need feedback:

Colo. police pepper-spray misbehaving boy, 8

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LAKEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — The mother of an 8-year-old boy pepper-sprayed by suburban Denver police as he threw a violent tantrum at his elementary school said Wednesday that she wishes authorities had chosen to talk him down instead.
Police in Lakewood say they pepper-sprayed 8-year-old Aidan Elliott twice Feb. 22 at Glennon Heights Elementary School after he refused to drop a piece of wooden wall trim that he was trying to stab them with.
"I wanted to make something sharp, like if they came out, 'cause i was so mad at them," the boy said on NBC's "Today" show. "I was going to try to whack them with it."
The Associated Press: Colo. police pepper-spray misbehaving boy, 8

 

What do you think of that? This little kid could really do some damage with a sharp instrument, why not protect yourselves? I know I would. With all the craziness in our world today, does it matter if you're stabbed by a kid or an adult-- you're still stabbed. I feel for this mom because I am a mom and it's hard to see your own kid as a potential murderer or felon, but be very clear, every murderer is someone's kid.

I believe in the "old school" way of discipline, a little whack to keep 'em straight or let them know you mean business. So much authority has been taken away from the teachers/parents that respect is minimal and the kids don't fear the consequences of their actions. What do you think???