A Republican lawmaker in Oklahoma has voiced his opposition to a new law banning the corporal punishment of disabled children, claiming it goes against scripture.

State Senator Shane Jett expressed his concerns over Senate Bill 364, which passed with a 31-16 vote, on Tuesday night. Jett, 50, criticized the bill, describing it as “a top down socialist aligned ideological, unilateral divorce between parents’ ability to collaborate with their local schools to establish a disciplined regimen.”

He argued that the law prohibiting the beating of disabled children violated scripture, referencing Proverbs 22:15 to support his stance. Jett read aloud: “Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline drives it far from him,” according to Oklahoma Voice.

The U.S. Supreme Court, in 1977, ruled in the Ingraham v. Wright case that school corporal punishment was constitutional, allowing states to decide whether to permit it, as reported by the Center for Effective Discipline.

During the debate on Tuesday, Jett questioned Senator Dave Rader, the Tulsa Republican who authored the bill. Rader responded by quoting scripture: “There are going to be times when we walk through the valley of the shadow of death, we won’t have to fear evil because your rod and your staff comfort me.” He also added, “Not all discipline needs to be one-way, and to deal with special needs takes special discipline.”

Jett continued citing Bible verses, asserting, “In scripture, it’s uniformly applied to everyone.”

Rader clarified that the new bill would guide educators, as current Oklahoma law already bans corporal punishment for students with the “most significant cognitive disabilities.” The State Department of Education enforces a rule disallowing school staff from using physical force to discipline students with disabilities, according to the Senate.

In 2024, corporal punishment remained legal in 17 states and was practiced in 14, with Oklahoma being the latest state to prohibit its use on children with disabilities. Corporal punishment is still allowed for students without disabilities.

Last modified: February 28, 2025