The Georgia School for Innovation and the Classics sent a form to parents requesting to paddle students after their third behavioral infraction. Students who are not authorized to be paddled will instead face a suspension up to 5 days. About one-third of the parents have given their consent.

The Georgia School of Innovation and the Classics, (above) in Hephzibah. (Photo: CBS)

The form outlines the new guidelines, saying: "A student will be taken into an office behind closed doors. The student will place their hands on their knees or piece of furniture and will be struck on the buttocks with a paddle. No more than three licks should be given".

Superintendent Jody Boulineau in interview with WRDW-TV. (Screenshot from WRDW-TV)

"In this school we take discipline very seriously," Superintendent Jody Boulineau told local media. "There was a time where corporal punishment was kind of the norm in school and you didn't have the problems that you have. It's just one more tool that we have in our disciplinary toolbox that we can use,” he added. In addition, he argues that the policy should be viewed as a deterrent, saying that the practice "won't be used very often".

Photo: Getty Images

The story has garnered a flurry of attention by national news agencies, appearing on the NBC Nightly News, TIME magazine and CNN, just to name a few. People are already responding on the school's Facebook page.

Screenshots from Facebook page

Though it is defined differently in each state, corporal punishment is considered the use of moderate physical force or contact to enforce rules and discipline students. It is banned in 31 states and Washington DC. New Mexico most recently banned the practice in 2011. However, in some states, using force to the point of bruising is acceptable. Georgia is among 20 US states that allow corporal punishment - including paddling - in schools. Nineteen other states, including Mississippi, Texas, Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Oklahoma and Louisiana still permit physical force in disciplining students.

Specific rules in each state vary regarding what type of paddle can be used, how hard administrators are permitted to strike the child and whether "bodily injury" to the student is permissible. 

(Complied by He Jieqiong, with input from BBC)