Well, there are certainly political dimensions associated with the spanking of high school students, and with other sexual interactions between students and those in the academic hierarchy (teachers, principals, etc.).
Why should this principal in Boonville be getting away with abusing his authority to gain access to the luscious buttocks of his students, and others be sent to prison for equally sexual but less nasty and painful encounters?
As long as you are an "authority figure" who is administering a painful punishment for some alleged misdeed or "behavioral problem", you can satisfy your sadistic carnal urges fully to the extent that the law allows. The entire public applauds you. Even the cute little student herself is very willing. If it isn't about asserting authority and inflicting pain, then off to prison you go.