Child spanking laws?

Question

What are the laws in Tennessee regarding spanking? Is it legal to spank a child with a belt? Yes, I am pro spanking. I am not looking for the rude derogetroy comments about this or people critising me. I need to know if it is legal to spank a child with a belt. Not beat the child with one, spank a child with one. Huge difference.

All me to explain in more detail. It is my bf's daughter. We have done everything from making her clean, to talking to her, to you name it. She just got herself kicked out of school today for hitting the assistant principal. We are both at our wits end. We don't know what to do. We've tried not spanking, we've tried spanking. We've tried grounding her, making her clean. You name it, we've tried it. We've gotten her involved with Girl Scouts. I just want to know what the laws for spanking are. Some children need a belt. I got spanked with a paddle and I'm not in jail. So that comment about her winding up in jail is a load of crap. We're trying to stop the behavior not encourage it. She will also be starting counseling as soon as she's referred through the school. Meeting is tomorrow. You can't call me a crappy parent when you haven't been in my shoes and don't know the all the details.

Ok, my original question I was just wanting child punishment laws. Maybe I posted it in the wrong topic. Also, we have been as consistent as possible. She is starting therapy. I do not fear the paddle, I fear the one holding it. And its a fearful respect. I wasn't asking for personal opinions, I was asking for known laws. Yes, I believe spanking is ok, in certain situations. I do not believe it is the ultimate solution for everything. Some principals would have sent her butt straight to juvie. for trying to hit them. We try different methods when certain methods don't work or seem to stop working. But I do not believe in spanking a child for everything. I also believe isolation (ie the corner) can be a strong device as well.

Answer 1

There are no laws that I know of, in any state, which state you can not use 'responcible Corporal Punishment''. You will see many responces which say you should never hit a child, but they are the same knuckleheads who tell children how to sue thier parents for hitting them, and they usually also stuff thier purses at all you can eat buffet resturants, and therefore are shoplifters who should be ignored because they are criminals. Also, most of these people have no children, and spent too many nights in yahoo answers, trying to wrack up points.

Is there a point where a spanking should be used? yes, I think there is. But it comes down to the same reasoning as the Death penalty, I myself believe that there are some crimes which should warrent the death penalty, but do not trust the Judicial system, so I do not believe that anybody should be put to death under the current legal system.

If you hit your child, ie spank, they are not going to start a life of crime or end up in prison because of it. If they start a life of crime, or end up in prison, it will be because of the people they hang out with.

Answer 2

Child Spanking Laws

Answer 3

In the United States, no state prohibits parents and guardians from spanking their own children in the home, unless the punishment leaves marks.
But note that the American Academy of Pediatrics, three years ago, condemned spanking, questioning its effectiveness and raising concerns about potential side effects.

Answer 4

I dont know about tennessee ,you should call your state senators office and ask about the laws regarding this. In my opinion if more parents would spank their kids these days there would be alot less of them running around with guns and alot less back talk . Yes I am also pro spanking i spanked mine with a paddle. I have raised 2 well adjusted young men who have never been in jail have never been arrested and who have homes of their own and have never done drugs. They both have very good jobs thanks to me busting my hump to work and afford college for both of them. They never once did anything to make me disown them. so yes i do believe in spanking. If you dont spank then you are asking for pure stone cold selfish spoiled brats. You go girl with that belt some kids need it. You can tell the ones that dont get it at home. Good luck and god bless.

Answer 5

I don't know the law there but you should be asking it of her therapists and not on Yahoo answer board. He needs to be informed of the family dynamics more than anyone else. It isn't just her problem.

Answer 6

I agree with Chris. Don,t complain when your child ends up in prison by the time he or she is 18. Don,t cry to anyone when that child grows up to be an abusive adult. Learn to disipline without being abusive. And yes....I have children. I,m a single father of two teen boys. I was hit with a belt as a child also. Stop, calm down and try disipline when your are NOT angry.

Answer 7

I don't give a crap if you do not want to hear rude or derogatory comments. Hitting a child with an implement is abuse - pure and simple. .

If a person 120 or so pounds cannot control a little kid without inflicting pain - then you have lost the war already. Use your mind to discipline - don't hit

And btw you are not giving her a decent model for behavior when you are not married - and further more you have no business disciplining this child....she is not yours. Clean your act up before trying to get hers together.

Answer 8

I don't know about it in Tennessee, but I do know that in California, you are only aloud to do it with your hand, and from the waist down.

"spare the rod, spoil the child"

Answer 9

I sure hope it is.