The reform movement to abolish corporal punishment in Canadian schools has been stymied by the new conservative political movement. The public mood, troubled by political and economic disturbances, is no longer inclined to substitute expensive rehabilitative programs for traditional disciplining. Retention of corporal punishment is also encouraged by several historic and socioeconomic factors in Canadian society. Since it is the community which shapes and enforces the social codes, future developments in the corporal punishment debate are most likely to be in the direction of curbing abuse rather than pushing for abolition. (Author/APM)