You have probably heard the expression, "Spare the rod, spoil the child." Do you agree with it? Perhaps you were spanked as a kid. Was it appropriate? Some people see spanking as an outdated method of punishment or even child abuse, while others view a swat on the bottom as a parent's prerogative. Where do we draw the line when it comes to disciplining our children?
Physical punishment of children, including spanking, is the intentional infliction of physical pain to stop misbehavior. Since it involves pain, it is a violent act. If an adult were struck, we would call it “assault”. Children are the only class of citizens for which an exemption exists for the crime of assault. When children are injured by physical punishment, parents in all states can claim the defense of “reasonable corporal punishment”. Governments around the world are changing their laws to protect children from such physical punishment in both homes and schools in order to guarantee children their human right to protection from violence.
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