Do we need a law against spanking?
A couple of the letters to the editor in tomorrow's paper address a proposed bill that would make it a misdemeanor to spank a child under age 3.
"I think it's pretty hard to argue you need to beat a child 3 years old or younger,'' said Assemblywoman Sally Lieber, D-Mountain View, who is proposing the bill, which is still being written. "Is it OK to whip a 1-year-old or a 6-month-old or a newborn?''
Both of the letter writers say Lieber's proposal is a foolish idea. One writer says "piercing an infant's ears fits the legal definition of assault better than a swat to deter a 2-year-old from touching a stove."
I have to agree with them -- about spanking and piercing an infant's ears. I was brought up in a home where our parents spanked us when necessary. I think a lot of what's wrong in society today might have been prevented if more parents thought like mine did. But that seems politically incorrect these days.
What is your opinion?
Comments
OK, I'll take the bait. I grew up in a spanking home -- we were not beaten, we were not abused, we were not even spanked that often, but when we outright disobeyed, we were swatted. I am a parent who spanked my 4 daughters as needed -- privately and with love, along with forgiveness and conversation about right vs. wrong.
Funny, now that my kids are teens, they are well-behaved young ladies and I get compliments on them often. There is a huge difference between beatings and spankings.
I can only hope ridiculous bills like this don't pass. It is merely trying to go against our Biblical responsibility where parents are specifically encouraged to use the "rod of correction."
I will answer to God for my parenting, not to Democratic legislators.
Cheryl
Posted by: Cheryl | January 29, 2007 4:44 PM
I agree with Cheryl. Yes, I spanked my kids when they were little. Most people I know that don't spank have discipline problems. Spank a 6-month-old? No. That's abuse and we already have laws re: child abuse. You spank for rebelliousness and disobedience.
Assemblywoman, if you want to save the children, start with the unborn and work your way up.
Posted by: Dawn | January 29, 2007 11:16 PM
Spanking is a choice of the parent, but a child without discipline is very similar to characters out of "Lord of the Flies"...
Some of the best things I learned from my parents were preceeded by a good smack upside my head...
Posted by: Sean | January 30, 2007 11:35 AM
I didn't spank my kids because I didn't want them be terroized by me, it felt contrary to what I was trying to achieve as a parent. The only connection I know of, to good citizenship, is the fact that our prisons are full of spanked people.
Posted by: jaun rapido | January 30, 2007 5:49 PM
Simple rule of our house is if our daughter is about to do something that could cause another harm or harm herself. She gets a spanking.
I use many other forms of discipline. For other minor things starting off with letting her know exactly where her boundaries are.
A spanking is an immediate response. One they remember. On the same hand I also tell her every time she does something right. I praise her often.
She is doing fine.
Posted by: John Zacharias | January 31, 2007 3:46 AM
This law is ridiculous and stupid. Spanking and whipping have different definitions. Also, what if a child does not respond to alternative methods? Lock them in their rooms and not feed them...oh yes I bet that would go over well. Now that would be child abuse.
Spanking is a slap on the buttocks. If you were to slap them across the face then I can see otherwise, but spanking is different. Any sane person would know that. Instead of thinking up ridiculous laws how about we turn our attention to something that would make a difference in the world instead of stupidity?
If Assemblywoman Sally Lieber would like to make laws like no spanking then she doesn't need to be an assemblywoman.
Posted by: Katie Stickel | January 31, 2007 4:14 PM
Nobody spanks adults,it would be abusive,it's reserved for children only.What I know for sure,is,children learn by example,and the children who are spanked the most,are always the ones in fights at school,it was true when I was a kid, it was true when my kids were in school.I once witnessed a 2 year old get spanked for touching a wood stove...in July!
Posted by: jaun rapido | January 31, 2007 8:33 PM
"What I know for sure,is,children learn by example,and the children who are spanked the most,are always the ones in fights at school,it was true when I was a kid, it was true when my kids were in school." (Juan)
Children don't always turn into fighters when they are spanked, but it may happen to some, not all. I should know, my sister was a real trouble maker and was spanked often enough and yet she isn't a fighter. She is doing well and is in the Navy. Also spanking doesn't turn a child to crime; it's the person the child chooses to become. If that wasn't true, then gays would choose to be gay, instead of being born gay.
Posted by: Katie Stickel | February 1, 2007 8:23 PM
I am on the fence about spanking. I was spanked as a child and I turned out just fine. Never got in trouble and never started fights. I do agree that spanking should not be the ONLY means of discipline. My kids do get spanked once in awhile, mainly for more serious issues. For everyday discipline, time-outs and privileges taken away. Though there are several parents who do spank and do it out of anger, then they(children) are taught to hit out of anger. Which I do not agree with!
Posted by: Nancy | February 8, 2007 3:23 PM