Stories From Children and Families
Behind every statistic is a child.
These stories reflect what happens when corporal punishment is still considered a legal form of discipline. They are not isolated incidents. They reveal a pattern.
“My Dad Beat Me”
Amara’s Story
Amara is in seventh grade. She is a quiet, thoughtful child who sometimes needs extra time to process things. She lives with her father and rarely sees her mother. She meets regularly with a therapist, a place where she feels safe expressing herself.
One day, when her therapist asked how she was doing, Amara said quietly:
“My dad beat me.”
She explained that she had brought home a disappointing report card. In response, her father spanked her angrily and repeatedly.
Concerned, her therapist reported the incident to Child and Family Services.
But the agency would not take the report.
There were no bruises. No visible marks.
Without physical evidence, the case did not meet the threshold for investigation.
Even though this had become a pattern, the law still considered it discipline, not abuse.
Now Amara feels anxious both at home and at school. She tries to focus and do well, but she carries a constant sense of tension.
What happened to Amara is still legal in California.
“It Was Like He Was Possessed”
Sam’s Story
Sam was nine years old and dreading going to a friend’s birthday party. At a previous party, he had clashed with another child and was still holding onto that frustration.
When he arrived, the same child made a rude comment — and Sam snapped. He threw a punch, and the situation escalated into a fight.
Later, the host’s mother called Sam’s mom.
“It was like steam was coming out of his head,” she said. “He had so much anger. I’ve never seen anything like it. It was like he was possessed.”
Sam’s mom was confused. Her son wasn’t typically violent. Why had this escalated so quickly?
Four days later, the truth came out.
The day before the party, Sam’s father had slapped him across the face. Sam described the slap as so hard that he wanted to cry.
Suddenly, it made sense.
Not knowing where to put the pain and anger from that experience, Sam had done what many children do. He turned it outward.
Trying to understand what had happened, Sam’s mother contacted Child and Family Services.
She was told that a slap with an open hand did not meet the threshold for investigation.
Sam’s pain was real. But the system did not recognize it as serious.
What happened to Sam is still legal in California.
These Stories Share a Pattern
These stories are not isolated. They reflect what research consistently shows:
• Physical punishment often escalates over time
• Children internalize fear, shame, and confusion
• Anger is often redirected toward others
• Many cases are not investigated because there are no visible marks
When harm leaves no visible evidence, it is often treated as discipline — not abuse.
What It Feels Like to a Child
Children don’t experience corporal punishment as a form of discipline. They experience it as:
Fear
Being afraid of the people meant to protect them.
Shame
Believing they deserved what happened.
Confusion
Struggling to understand how love and harm can come from the same person.
Anger
Pain turning outward into aggression.
Anxiety
Living with constant tension at home and carrying it into school and relationships.
These Stories Shouldn’t Be Legal
Corporal punishment remains legal in California homes and private schools.
These stories show why that needs to change.
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Help End Corporal Punishment in California
When you join the campaign, you help build the public support needed to change the law and protect children.
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Share your story or the story of a student, patient, or client. Help others understand the negative impact of corporal punishment and the barriers to banning it.
Spread the word to others. We need to rewire the mindset around spanking, slapping, and other forms of corporal punishment.
When you join the campaign, you help build the public support needed to change the law.