RALEIGH -- New data from Action for Children North Carolina says corporal punishment in state schools dropped to just 184 times in 2012-2013, a drop of more than 50 percent from the previous school year. Six districts accounted for all of the instances and Action for Children spokesman Tom Vitaglione says Robeson County led the way with 141 instances.

According to Vitaglione, "Robeson has, unfortunately, led the state in the use of corporal punishment for several years. Although, we are happy to report, that it is dropping there rather dramatically as well." Studies show that corporal punishment has no academic benefit -- and thus -- instances of its administration, nationwide, have dramatically dropped.