Is Spanking an Acceptable Form of Discipline?

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 Some people see spanking as an outdated method of punishment or even child abuse, while others view a swat on the bottom as a parent's prerogative.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?

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Litte exaggeration don't you think?

"nature" meaning the tendency in every human person to do the wrong thing. When a child doesn't listen in the classroom...the school has corrective punishment in play to make sure the child is listening. If a student is lazy and doesn't study for an exam.....a big fat "F" is corrective punishment. When someone speeds to much, our government has corrective punishment rules to ensure its citizens obey the laws. I would say "corrective punishment" is pretty well defined without someone having to tell you what it is.

I love how you guys throw around hitting and spanking. THEY ARE NOT THE SAME THING.

"a spanking with some instructive words, that justifies the hitting."

Actually should read

"a spanking with some instructive words, that justifies the spanking."

I think you guys use the word "hitting" when referring to spanking because you think it makes your case strong.

In order for you to win that argument....you'd have to go in to a dictionary and change the definition of spanking.

"all parents in 24 other nations in the world, effectively raise healthy children without ever hitting them."

If you mean "spanking" when you say "hitting" You are assuming that their citizens obey that law. Several countries, including Nepal (which is kind of laughable that they have that law there of all places) have never once enforced the law.

Many of the 24 countries you mention allow spanking. Some of those countries allow spanking within certain criteria only, etc.

So broadly using those 24 countries as a platform for eliminating a slap on the butt isn't a good idea. Especially since most of them have clearly defined the difference between spanking and hitting a child in their laws.

- reb412 August 31, 2008 5:59AM

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