After learning of grade cheating and sex going on at area schools recently, it's obvious more discipline is needed.

But we're not sure that needs to come in the form of corporal punishment in schools.

The subject came up in both Richmond County and Columbia County schools this past week. A state report apparently incorrectly cited nine incidents of paddling in Richmond County schools last year; a school official says the reports were the result of clerical errors, and that she's not aware of any corporal punishment in Augusta schools since the 1980s.

Meanwhile, the Columbia County Board of Education officially disallowed corporal punishment this week by taking the OK-to-spank policy off the books -- even though the district had really abandoned the tactic long ago.

Columbia County Superintendent Charles Nagle said spanking is a parental issue. We agree.

The truth is, certainly at school -- and perhaps in the home as well -- if you have to resort to spanking anyone older than a toddler, it may be you who's failed.

We're supposed to be smarter than the child we raise. Surely we can use more erudite forms of punishment, behavior control and discipline than slapping or spanking.

Toddlers have difficulty grasping how behavior leads to consequences. But school-age children should be sophisticated enough to understand "if A then B." And their wants and desires are compelling and clear enough that they can understand that bad behavior on their part can stand in the way of getting what they want.

This isn't new-age, touchy-feely, can't-we-all-get-along mushy-headed nonsense we're talking about. Indeed, there's nothing like a limited, focused swat on the behind to get an out-of-control toddler's attention. But it must be a last resort, must be limited in scope, must be rarely used, and must be clearly explained in order to be effective.

Moreover, if a child is old enough to reason, he is old enough to be disciplined with more refined methods.

If you're still resorting to spanking beyond the age of reason, then it's quite likely your fault, not the child's.