Human Rights Watch , ACLU say spanking `` discourages learning '' Corporal punishment is used frequently in schools in 13 states ; it 's legal in 21 . Rights groups say such punishments are often disproportionately applied . Comment:
Human Rights Watch , ACLU say spanking `` discourages learning '' Corporal punishment is used frequently in schools in 13 states ; it 's legal in 21 . Rights groups say such punishments are often disproportionately applied . Evangelical leader 's group says spanking `` can be useful '' in elementary schools .