Disciplinary spankings

[Angel]

I believe the Bible approves of spanking kids as a form of discipline (Proverbs 13:24). And once upon a time not too long ago, spankings were common in America, including schools. Now I'll attempt to distinguish spanking from child abuse, if possible. The difference I think is doing it in a controlled way or out-of-control way. By that I mean, spanking one area of the body (the hands, etc) as opposed to spanking all over or anywhere on the body and out of anger/rage.


Debate question:
1. Are disciplinary spankings right or moral?

[Angel]

Here's a video on Youtube reported throughout the news media just yesterday. A then 16 year old girl getting a few belt whips all over from her father. Her father is a judge in Texas, Judge William Adams.

[FinalEnigma]

Regardless of what the bible says, I don't think it's a particularly effective method of discipline. children never remember what it was for, only to be scared of it.

Further, studies have shown that spankings can have an effect on sex later in life, by making a connection between sexual pleasure and pain (particularly in girls).

[McCulloch]

Why do we have a separate word for it? The correct term is assault and battery.

[Angel]

I just wanted to add some more relevant information. Let me 1st define 'corporal punishment' which is sometimes referred to as spanking..

Corporal punishment-
Corporal punishment is defined under human-rights law as "any punishment in which physical force is used and intended to cause some degree of pain or discomfort." [1]

Punishment of a physical nature, such as caning, flogging, or beating[2]

Sources:
1. Read more: http://www.time.com/time/nation/article ... z1ciHh2kfx

2. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/ ... punishment

[Angel]

More information..

In all 50 states, parents are legally allowed to spank their children. But in 29 states it's illegal for a teacher to practice corporal punishment, including spanking.

Source: http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/story?id=3924024#.TrN9YGH7Ps0

Corporal punishment in schools remains legal in 21 U.S. states and is used frequently in 13: Missouri, Kentucky, Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee and Florida, according to data received from the Office for Civil Rights at the U.S. Department of Education and cited in the report.

Source: http://articles.cnn.com/2008-08-20/us/c ... s?_s=PM:US

My sum up...
Assuming that laws have not changed, corporal punishment is allowed in all 50 states in US. Corporal punishments in school are allowed in 21 states in the US. I've read on other websites from private organizations or personal sites that the law distinguishes between spanking and abuse. Here's some examples of criteria for justified spankings:

-Be necessary (i.e. there it must be in response to a child's negative behavior).
-Be reasonable, not excessive, in the judgment of a third party -- e.g. a Child Protective Services representative, or a law enforcement officer
-of reasonable intensity in a parent-child situation

I got these 3 points from here - http://www.religioustolerance.org/spankin2.htm

[Goat]

It seems to me that the video provides something more than 'reasonable'. It wasn't a 'spanking', it was a beating.

It also appears to me that using spanking as the default form of punishment only teaches the child that it is appropriate to react violently when you lose your temper.

[Slopeshoulder]

If one proverb approves of the rod, it doen't mean the entire bible does (that would be a terrible literalist primitive reductionism). It doesn't mean the tradition does. It doesn't mean that theology does, or that ethicists do, or that believers today do.

Having said that, I was spanked or later slapped all the time until I was 17 or so; it only stopped when I sent my mom sailing.
Never hurt me any.
Except that I don't currently talk to my parents.
And I don't have or want kids.
And I have mild anger issues.
And when angry I have been known to break things, albeit rarely.
And once, when I was out of words, I hit someone when in high school. Happened to be my girlfriend.
And I won't shy from jacking people up if necessary.

[stupidstupid]

If one proverb approves of the rod, it doen't mean the entire bible does (that would be a terrible literalist primitive reductionism). It doesn't mean the tradition does. It doesn't mean that theology does, or that ethicists do, or that believers today do.

Having said that, I was spanked or later slapped all the time until I was 17 or so; it only stopped when I sent my mom sailing.
Never hurt me any.
Except that I don't currently talk to my parents.
And I don't have or want kids.
And I have mild anger issues.
And when angry I have been known to break things, albeit rarely.
And once, when I was out of words, I hit someone when in high school. Happened to be my girlfriend.
And I won't shy from jacking people up if necessary.

Ouch... I think that this reply just highlights how wrong it is to hit a child EVER!!!

I was smacked by my parents when i was a child. When my mum remarried i was also smacked by my step-father. I still talk to them today but my point of view is that smacking is wrong - how do you teach a child not to hit if you hit them for hitting?

Oh and hi all - sorry to resurrect a post that everyone had finished with



Su

[FinalEnigma]

If one proverb approves of the rod, it doen't mean the entire bible does (that would be a terrible literalist primitive reductionism). It doesn't mean the tradition does. It doesn't mean that theology does, or that ethicists do, or that believers today do.

Having said that, I was spanked or later slapped all the time until I was 17 or so; it only stopped when I sent my mom sailing.
Never hurt me any.
Except that I don't currently talk to my parents.
And I don't have or want kids.
And I have mild anger issues.
And when angry I have been known to break things, albeit rarely.
And once, when I was out of words, I hit someone when in high school. Happened to be my girlfriend.
And I won't shy from jacking people up if necessary.

Ouch... I think that this reply just highlights how wrong it is to hit a child EVER!!!

I was smacked by my parents when i was a child. When my mum remarried i was also smacked by my step-father. I still talk to them today but my point of view is that smacking is wrong - how do you teach a child not to hit if you hit them for hitting?

Oh and hi all - sorry to resurrect a post that everyone had finished with



Su

I imagine it's possible there's a connection(though I don't have time right now to check studies), but spankings as a child don't necessarily result in anger/violence issues with adults. perhaps they simply increase the likelihood? if even that.

personally, I was spanked as a child for misdeeds, and even backhanded across the face a time or two. I'll admit I'm not close to my parents, but I'm known among my friends(and my fiance) for having an extremely even temper and lots of patience.
I very rarely get angry, and when I do, its usually at myself. I will admit I've had a tendency all my life to hit objects when angry (but never people) and that does continue to a lesser extent still (though now it's really only when I'm angry with myself, and only objects that won't break for it. I used to kick holes in walls).