Guys, it is not like you are paddled in front of the class. Back when I took my licks, it was in the office, by the principal, with a witness to make sure that no more force was used than necessary. It stung, and hurt my pride, but I was guilty of the offense. And I moved on and graduated with honors.
I simply do not see that we are backward in any shape, form or fashion because we have a policy that you can opt out of. And Mark is right...we are a huge county with much cultural diversity, and this does not mean that any one group is better than the other. Trust me, cancelling corporal punishment as an option would be just as horrifying, if not more so, to many parents as allowing it is to the parents on this board who are against it.