Central Elementary School’s principal, Melissa Carter, and clerk Cecilia Self were caught on camera allegedly paddling a 6-year-old girl for “allegedly scratching a computer screen,” sparking concerns about corporal punishment in schools.
The incident began when the girl’s mother visited the school to pay a fine for the alleged computer damage. Due to a language barrier, she misunderstood the process. In the principal’s office, she, the principal, and a clerk were present.
Fearing that no one would believe her, the mother discreetly recorded the paddling incident. She felt compelled to expose what was happening at the school, stating, “I sacrificed my daughter, so all parents can realize what’s happening in this school.”
The school district’s handbook prohibits corporal punishment but allows for disciplinary actions in cases of intentional damage to school property. Florida law doesn’t explicitly ban corporal punishment.
