A school in Hephzibah, Georgia, is drawing national attention after sending consent forms to parents informing them of a new policy of using paddling as a form of punishment for students, CBS affiliate WRDW-TV reports.

The Georgia School of Innovation and the Classics (GSIC), a kindergarten-through-9th-grade charter school, is bringing back paddling — spanking a child on the behind with a wooden board — as a form of discipline. Superintendent Jody Boulineau told WRDW that about 100 parents sent back the forms, and one-third gave the school consent to paddle their child.

"In this school, we take discipline very seriously," the superintendent said. "There was a time where corporal punishment was kind of the norm in school and you didn't have the problems that you have."

Boulineau said parents can deny giving permission to the school. The form sent home explained the steps the school would take to discipline children with a paddle. "A student will be taken into an office behind closed doors. The student will place their hands on their knees or piece of furniture and will be struck on the buttocks with a paddle," the form, which was obtained by WRDW, reads. Students will be paddled after their third offense. The form also says "no more than three licks should be given."

The paddle will be 24 inches in length, six inches in width and 3/4 inches in thickness, the form specifies. Parents will be notified if their child is to be paddled by an administrator, according to the form, which CBS News has not independently verified.

Transcription of portion of apparent form:

1. Corporal punishment will be administered using a “three-strike” policy.

When a student is sent to the office for disciplinary purposes, a member of the administrative team will discuss the infraction with the student and notify the parents. A non-corporal punishment may be given at this time, and the student warned of the future possibility of a paddling if improper behavior continues. These steps will be taken for the second occurence of an infraction. Upon being sent to the office for the third time, the student will receive “strike three” and may receive corporal punishment.

2. Parents are notified that their child is to be paddled.

3. The student will be taken into an office and the door closed.

4.The student will place their hands on their knees or a piece of furniture and be struck on the buttocks with a paddle.

The paddle is made of wood and should not exceed the 24" in length, 6" in width, and 3/4" in thickness.

"It's just one more tool that we have in our disciplinary toolbox that we can use," Boulineau said.