An argument i had with someone recently?

Question

Would you like to see the return of the belt at school? My answer is NO!! I do not think anyone should be allowed to abuse our children and would NEVER use such a cruel punishment on my kids. How do you feel?

Answer 1

Of course not. Our children are said to be the greatest gift we can receive, and, yet, some people treat strangers better than their own family.

I don't understand how violence teaches a child anything other than "might makes right." It erodes the self-esteem, self-confidence and creates an environment where children are too afraid to speak up for fear of punishment which is usually not doled out consistently or appropriately.

http://www.parentingweb.com/discipline/pw_disc.htm
http://www.babyzone.com/features/content/display.asp?ContentID=544

Granted, this does not mean we should overlook inappropriate behavior or give free reign to cause havoc, but violence is not the answer.

Answer 2

It is sad to see these questions come up. Children aren't disciplined at home, so the teachers are left with bratty kids to deal with. I know a lot of people do discipline, but a lot take the soft line and let their kids walk all over them or are afraid of their kids hating them. Then, there's the ones that give in after their kids whine or cry enough. No wonder the Nanny is such a popular show.

Personally, I would not allow my child to be spanked in school only because you can't control the circumstances of punishment and the type--how hard to be hit, how many times, is it in front of students and used as humiliation, etc. However, if my son misbehaves at school, he will be punished upon returning home. I firmly believe in consequences for actions. He may miss the "big game", a dance, sleepover, or get home privileges taken away.

Answer 3

Judging by the standards of some teachers in my daughters school, they would use the belt before realising they had made a mistake or gotten it all wrong; HELL NO. Some teachers are BULLY'S IN AUTHORITY! The verbal insults children get from some teachers is bad enough; i dont know what i would do if anybody ever punished my child in such a cruel way.

Answer 4

I am 48 years old and have never been hit with anything. The thing is, some kids do need discipline. Unfortunately, crossing the lines between discipline and abuse is a very scary one. Kids do whatever they want - when they want (NOT ALL KIDS BUT SOME) and the problem is -- they KNOW they can get away with it. Everyone should grow up realizing that actions can cause reactions so that they "think" before they act on a whim and do something stupid or harmful to someone else. When they are adults, they are going to be shocked to find out --- they aren't the boss anymore. It might be a rude awakening for them and that is sad.

Answer 5

There is a reason why schools have detention and such. Discipline should be left up to the parents to teach there child(ren) right from wrong. And if that parent isn't willing to discipline in a safe non threatening way, then maybe someone from the state where they live should step in. Children learn from what they see and some parents should be ashamed.

Answer 6

They used a belt when I went to school, and the ones who got "the belt" learned to stay out of trouble. The ones that saw "the belt" being used on someone, didn't want to get in trouble. I think it is a good idea. However, there should be some guidlines to the use of it. I would hardly call it abuse, it is more a form of punishment. You mess up, you get in trouble. What does suspending them do? Give them a few days of vacation......

Answer 7

I used to believe in corporal punishment and had the slipper and the pump at school.

Now I have a child I am totally against it as I realised that all the smacks I got at school and at home never stopped me miss behaving.

Now I think that if corporal punishment really worked I would have only been hit once wouldnt I !

My dad caught onto this pretty early and he made us to mundane tasks like polish the radiator pipes in the house!, or just grounded us for which we would have gladly have took a beating than be deprived of going out!

Answer 8

Not the belt but children should mabye have harsher consequences to their actions.

Standing in a corner and other such are acceptable. I think beating like that is unacceptable.

Answer 9

Physical punishment has no place in public schools. That said, children today are severly lacking in manners and respect. Teachers basically have their hands tied when the disrepectful little monsters start up. The responsibility falls back on parents and they are not rising to the occasion. Our kids, our future leaders, are the ones who suffer. The Age of Entitlement needs to end.

Answer 10

Corporal punishment in the schools is fairly passe.

An educational institution should apply academic practices to rectify abherent behavior.

However...i think corporal punishment in juvenille detention centers and jails is an excellent way to rectify petty crimes and save tax payer dollars...

Would you be willing to try and steal a car or a TV if you knew that instead of three hot meals and a place to sleep you would receive 15 whacks with a big stick?

Imagine...instead of getting out of a job with the excuse of jail ... you have to go back to work with bruises on your back...I think that would greatly decrese the glamour behind being a "thug" and spending time incarcerated.

...but not in schools...

Answer 11

Absolutely not! I think its wicked to beat children and I would never smack my child but I do think that parents should take more responsibility for their children's bad behaviour. I think a lot of parents just pack them off to school and think "they'll deal with it". I think that there are lots of people out there who believe that the only punishment you can give a child is one involving smacking and if you don't do that then there's no other form of discipline available.