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Ingraham v.
Wright 1977
Grace Healey

Background Information

James Ingraham was a student at a junior high school

in Dade County, Florida in the 1970s

Teacher accused James of neglecting instructions

James was brought to Principal Wrights office, where

he was spanked with a wooden paddle 20 times

He was told to stay home for a considerable amount of

time in order to recover from the injuries he sustained
from being spanked

Lawsuit

James believed his principal used an extremely harsh

form of corporal punishment and that he should be
protected under the Eighth Amendment.

Corporal punishment physical punishment

Eighth Amendment - excessive bail shall not be

required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and
unusual punishment inflicted

Eighth Amendment

The District Court found that only people convicted of a

crime were protected under the Eighth Amendment

Teachers and administrators are allowed to use

corporal punishment when they think it is necessary
because they are protected under common law

Public schools are their own institutions and therefore

do not fall under the constraints of the Eighth
Amendment

Outcome

The District Courts allowed Principal Wrights motion to

have the charges against him dismissed and the Court
of Appeals affirmed

Principal Wright was not chastised for his use of

corporal punishment and the charges against him were
dropped