You might think that school punishments like paddling are a thing of the past, but some schools and parents are still using strange disciplinary methods. Let’s explore some of the most shockingly bizarre school punishments ever recorded.
10 Kneeling On Frozen Peas
Imagine being forced to kneel on frozen peas as punishment. Some schools, particularly in Asia, have students kneel on frozen peas, corn, or rice for extended periods. One girl in China was even expelled for posting pictures of this harsh punishment online. It’s hard to believe, but this practice continues in some places.
The cruelty doesn’t stop there. There have been reports of children being forced to kneel on hot concrete or cheese graters by their parents. In Florida, one couple made their grandson kneel for nine hours a day for 10 days straight. While some forms of kneeling might be legal, they can easily cross the line into cruel and unusual treatment.
9 Holding Hands While Being Laughed At
At Westwood High School in Arizona, two students who got into a fight were given a bizarre choice: suspension or holding hands in the courtyard for 15 minutes. They chose the latter, but the humiliation was far worse than they anticipated. Other students laughed, took pictures, and made lewd comments, turning the punishment into a public spectacle.
Despite some parents supporting the principal’s decision, the Mesa School District frowned upon it. The students were thoroughly embarrassed, as the teasing continued long after the 15 minutes were up. Though they learned their lesson, the method was highly questionable.
8 Wearing A Sign
In Florida, parents took public shaming to a new level by making their son wear a sign broadcasting his bad grades. Michael Bell Jr. was forced to stand on a street corner with a sign that read, “I’m in the 7th grade and got three Fs. Blow your horn if there’s something wrong with that.” This punishment lasted for hours during his spring break.
Another mother in Tampa followed suit, making her son stand on the street with a sign about his poor performance on the FCAT. While some people honked in support, many viewed the punishment as cruel and humiliating. Public shaming as a disciplinary tactic is certainly controversial.
7 The Cone Of Shame
A teacher in Florida introduced the “Cone of Shame” to her classroom after watching the movie Up. Laurie Bailey-Cutkomp used a plastic dog collar, similar to those used to keep pets from disturbing their wounds, as a form of punishment. Students who misbehaved were forced to wear the cone, and other students took pictures and uploaded them to Facebook.
The school board was not amused and quickly suspended Bailey-Cutkomp without pay, risking her job. What she intended as a joke turned into a serious disciplinary issue, highlighting the fine line between humor and humiliation in the classroom.
6 Eating Lunch Off The Floor
In 2009, fifth graders at Charles Sumner Elementary School in New Jersey were forced to eat their lunch off the cafeteria floor. This bizarre punishment was supposedly for spilling a jug of water while refilling a cooler. The school’s vice-principal claimed it was due to a lack of seats, but students were not even allowed to use trays, receiving only a small piece of paper to separate their food from the dirty floor.
Adding to the controversy, the students singled out were all of Hispanic descent. The punishment lasted for 10 days, even affecting students who were absent on the day of the spill. Eventually, seven students split a $500,000 settlement, bringing an end to this shocking ordeal.
5 Being Written On In Permanent Marker
A fourth-grade teacher in Idaho, Summer Larsen, implemented a bizarre punishment for students who didn’t meet their Accelerated Reading goal. Students who failed to meet the target had two choices: miss recess or let their classmates write on their faces with permanent marker. Six students chose the latter.
Unsurprisingly, parents were not happy when their children came home looking like coloring books. They quickly protested against the school. While the students had a choice, the punishment was seen as harsh and embarrassing, especially for those who struggled with reading.
4 Chopping Off Hair
Lamaya Cammon, a seven-year-old, was playing with the beads in her newly braided hair when her teacher decided to take drastic action. The teacher lured Lamaya to her desk with candy and then proceeded to chop off one of her braids in front of the entire class. The other students laughed as Lamaya returned to her desk, crying and humiliated.
The teacher claimed she did it out of frustration and was fined $175 for her actions. Despite the bizarre and hurtful act, she was allowed to continue teaching, raising questions about the school’s disciplinary policies.
3 Telling An Autistic Kid Nobody Liked Him
Alex Barton, a young boy with undiagnosed high-functioning autism, faced an unbelievably cruel punishment. After being sent to the office for not having his backpack and homework, he returned to a class discussion led by his teacher, Wendy Portillo, about what his classmates disliked about him. Alex was made to sit and listen as his flaws were discussed.
Mrs. Portillo reportedly told Alex that she hated him. To make matters worse, she then held a class vote on whether or not they wanted Alex to stay in the class. By a vote of 14-2, Alex was forced out of the room. Despite the disturbing nature of this incident, a court ruled that Mrs. Portillo could continue teaching, sparking outrage and disbelief.
2 Organizing A Fake Prom
In Mississippi, a school district took revenge to an extreme by organizing a fake prom for a lesbian student, Constance McMillen, after she sued them for not allowing her to wear a tuxedo and bring her girlfriend to the event. The school initially claimed the prom was canceled due to her request, leading McMillen to sue for discrimination.
After a court ruling in her favor, the school informed her that she was invited to a replacement prom arranged by her classmates’ parents. However, the school had no intention of inviting her to the real prom. Instead, they hosted a fake event for her, her girlfriend, and five students with mental disabilities. McMillen only realized she had been set up when she arrived at the country club and found it nearly empty. The school district was forced to pay her $35,000, but the emotional damage was irreparable.
1 The Monster Closet
A teacher in Houston faced severe criticism after locking several students in a dark custodial closet known as the “Monster Closet.” After reading a story about monsters in closets, the Pre-K teacher thought it would be a good punishment for four-year-old Kelon Chaney. His classmates laughed as the teacher stuffed Chaney and three other children into the cramped, dark space. Chaney was so frightened that he vomited.
A similar incident occurred in Idaho, where a teacher allegedly locked five-year-old Tanner Cagle in a small, dark closet for over an hour, eventually forgetting about him. Cagle’s parents found him locked in the closet, having urinated on himself out of fear. These incidents highlight the disturbing trend of using fear and confinement as punishment.
+ The Therapy Bag
The “Therapy Bag” sounds relaxing, but it’s anything but. In Kentucky, a schoolteacher used a small duffel bag to stuff a nine-year-old autistic boy, Christopher Baker, as punishment for not doing his work. School officials claimed he was only in the bag for 20 minutes, but he was still tied up when his mother arrived. She was horrified to find her son calling out for her from inside the bag.
The teachers involved were fired, and this shocking punishment sparked outrage in the community. It serves as a stark reminder of the importance of humane and understanding approaches to discipline, especially for children with special needs.
These bizarre school punishments reveal a disturbing side of discipline. Share your thoughts in the comments below!