Spare the Rod, Save a Child: Rethinking Discipline in Our Schools with Dr. Ellen Chiocca and Dr. Esaa Mohammad Sabti Samarah

On this episode, I had the opportunity to talk with Dr. Ellen Chiocca and Dr. Esaa Mohammad Sabti Samarah about ending corporal punishment in schools. The mission of Arkansans Against School Paddling is to achieve a statewide ban on the use of corporal punishment in Arkansas schools by educating school personnel, board members, and legislators, encouraging lawmakers to sponsor a legislative ban, and promoting alternative, evidence-based disciplinary strategies rooted in respect and positive relationships rather than fear and pain. They also advocate for the protection of all students, not just those with severe disabilities, from this outdated practiceDr. Esaa Mohammad SamarahDr. Esaa Mohammad Sabti Samarah is an Assistant Professor in the School of Social Work at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. He holds a B.A. in Sociology from the University of Florida and an MSW from Florida State University. His doctoral work focuses on child welfare accountability, policy implementation, displacement, and the experiences of religious minorities within the foster care system. Before academia, Dr. Samarah worked as a Child Protective Investigator in Florida and served as a Research Coordinator in university labs. His work is informed by both field experience and empirical research. He has earned recognition for academic achievement, including a Medal of Honor from the University of Florida. Dr. Ellen M. Chiocca, PhD, APRN, CPNP-PC, is an Assistant Teaching Professor in the Sinclair School of Nursing at the University of Missouri. Dr. Chiocca completed her PhD in December 2018, and she has over two decades of experience as a primary care pediatric nurse practitioner, serving vulnerable children and families.Her teaching and research interests include pediatric primary care, family health, cultural and developmental aspects of child assessment, and serving populations that may face barriers to health and wellness. Dr. Chiocca is known for her commitment to mentoring, educational excellence, and for integrating clinical practice with scholarship in child health.