JACKSON — The parents of students who attend Northampton County Public Schools voiced their concerns on a social networking site after receiving a memo about corporal punishment in the school system.

Several parents posted comments on Facebook after receiving a survey questioning them about the use of corporal punishment.

On Tuesday, Dr. Eric Bracy confirmed the correspondence was sent to parents, but stressed corporal punishment is not being used in the school system.

“We don’t utilize corporal punishment,” he said.

Bracy said Northampton County Schools does have a policy concerning corporal punishment.

According to the Student Code of Conduct, Policy No. 4310 states; “principals and assistant principals may use reasonable force in the exercise of lawful authority to restrain or correct pupils and maintain order.”

On a state level, North Carolina permits the use of corporal punishment in public schools. However, many school districts have opted to ban it.

“Being that we have that policy, we have to ask parents if they wish we utilize it,” Bracy said.

In the past, Northampton County Board of Education members have discussed the existence of the policy. As for the future of that policy, Bracy said it will be reviewed.

“We are going to be looking at it,” he said.

A copy of Northampton County’s Student Code of Conduct is available at http://www.northampton.k12.nc.us.