UF graduates Graham Bernstein and Konstantin Nakov fought for years for Florida to ban corporal punishment in schools — often known as paddling. Their efforts came to fruition earlier this year with a law requiring parents to consent before their kids are struck.
Before the law took effect, Florida public schools provided parents, upon request, with a written statement explaining what the punishment was and why it was administered. Now, parents must opt in to the practice with written consent before their child is punished.
“[School] is a place where kids should feel safe and welcome, always,” said Nakov, 24, “and that’s not something that is really compatible with corporal punishment.”…