Sen. Phil Journey, R-Wichita, plans to introduce a bill that would shield educators from legal liability for administering corporal punishment to students. "From what I've seen and what I've been told by teachers and parents, we need to bring some order to schools, particularly middle schools," Journey said.

Kansas doesn't have a law forbidding corporal punishment, but many schools have banned it because of concerns they could be sued, Journey said. Under his bill, "local school boards would still have the option of allowing or not allowing corporal punishment," he said. In addition, the bill would mandate that parents would have to authorize the school to spank their child.

Journey said his own experience in school makes him think that a credible threat of corporal punishment would have a moderating effect on misbehavior, even if it is seldom used. "I came close a couple times," he said. "Believe me, I straightened up."

Reactions?