Corporal Punishment or Just Discipline?

In our society today is it really that terrible to spank your child? Some believe spanking is a necessary component of raising children, however it's only legitimate when used in the right manner. Parenting styles are different in other cultures, but the ideology of spanking will remain infused in our lives. This form of punishment has been taught throughout generations. Even though there have been few research studies done on the effects of spanking on children, it has been proven that it causes some disobedience. But isn't that what we don't want?

I have been spanked since I was a little girl but before that, I was put in time out. I always knew this form of punishment would do nothing about my behavior and it never seemed to be effective enough. If spanking was the only form of punishment that helped parents gain control of their children, and it was taken away, wouldn't they become so out of control that they would be unstoppable? People would be calling children services more than they do now! The only time I ever listened to my parents, did what I was told or kept out of trouble was if I was spanked because of my actions previously. Some say that spanking children teaches them to be afraid and only generates more hatred because of the humiliation. This may cause some problems with the child. If the parent is angry toward the child and gets spanked, then as soon as the child becomes angry, he/she will become violent. I do not believe this is the case at all. I believe under certain circumstances, spanking is an acceptable punishment. BUT, time outs are a joke and don't do anything for helping children grow up knowing what's right or wrong. According to CNN news, last year more than 200,000 children were spanked at school. Some people interviewed for this believe that they were just disciplinary measures that needed to be taken. But if that many children are being spanked every year in schools alone, is it really that awful? As I said previously, I was spanked ever since I was a child, and I never suffered from any antisocial behaviors. I also never thought of my parents as being abusive towards me. I think interactions between the family members and the children need to be assessed before even considering spanking as being child abuse.



Discussion questions:

1.) Is spanking a form of corporal punishment?

2.) Do you think spanking should be avoided? Does this cause more violence in the family?

3.) Do you think spanking is a form of child abuse?