Wether or not you agree with spanking, do you agree with outlawing spanking?

Question

Some people believe in the biblical "Spare the rod and spoil the child"... and I'm not talking about beating, or abuse... Just a good old fashioned swat on the rear end. Should the government really be able to tell you how to deal with your child? Next will they be telling you that it's illegal to give your kid more than one soda a day?

What's your view?

Ok, some people are saying that because the legislation is only for very young children... but I have to wonder... when my two year old reaches to touch a light bulb, and I swat his hand, is that abuse, or preventing him from further harm? hmmm.

Answer 1

no that's why kids are so out of control these days

Answer 2

This is something that is trying to be passed in California, where I live. It consists of outlawing any swatting even on the hand to children ages 3 and under. Now I don't think a child that young should be abused or harshly spanked, but if my kid was about to run in traffic, then I think that I should have the right to give my kid a swat for that.
I also think that it's about keeping our parental rights and not letting the government dictate.

Answer 3

I think it's wrong that the government try to interfere with how we raise our children. Basically this is saying parents have no right to discipline their kids. This idea makes about as much sense as someone saying the kids should be the ones working and paying the bills while the parents go to school and play video games all day. My dad swatted me on the butt with a belt up until I was a teenager. But somehow I was able to graduate from college as valedictorian with a degree in engineering. Amazing how that worked out, isn't it?

Answer 4

I don't agree with spanking whatsoever, I feel it's a form of child abuse, but I don't necessarily agree with the government banning it because their little tactics aren't going to work. They can't possibly be in every single household monitoring what's going on. I don't think it's an invasion of privacy to TRY to ban it, because the government is allowed to step in when a child is getting abused in any other way. Shaking a baby, hitting a child, spanking... it's all hurting the child and authorities should have some say on what happens because those little kids don't have a voice of their own to get help when needed.

Answer 5

I'm hesitant to outlaw spanking, but the regulations that are being considered in some states merely prohibit spanking very young children.
Violence begets violence, especially when children are young. I'm sort of ambivilant regarding the regulations as proposed, but agree that any of these must be very carefully studied to ensure that (a) the governmental purpose is very strong (i.e. good bases to believe that spanking small children is extremely detrmental) and (b) the governmental intrusion into something so private as child rearing is as minimal as necessary.

Answer 6

My immediate reaction is that the government has no business legislating how to raise a child. But there are two factors impeding my position:

1. Parents (in general) are doing a lousy job raising children these days. Evidence is abundant in the disrespect that children show not only to their parents but to their teachers and anyone else who would tell them what to do.

2. Legal steps need to be in place to ensure that children are not physically abused and have parents hide behind the argument that they were disciplining their child.

There is no question that the government has stepped over the line in our private homes and bedrooms, but we need to have a system in place that would ensure safety for children.

I wish I had an answer, but I'm afraid its a double edged sword. I'm in favour of anything that will reverse the trend of this disrespectful new generation, but am afraid of the power that would give to our government.

Answer 7

I rarely spank, but I don't agree in outlawing it. The bill in California is prohibiting spanking under 3 years old, and I can understand that, but it didn't pass anyway. America can't even keep tabs on child molesters and the courts give children back to parents who are horribly abusive and negligent, and now they think they can keep count of who is spanking their kids? This is a waste of time and money, and should be spent on keeping kids out of reach of abusive parents and molesters.

Answer 8

Spank ONLY IF you're not angry, and you've tried every other approved, positive parenting method.
The problem is that many people rely on this, and they don't ahve the power of praise, negative reinforcement, rewards and removal of routine priveleges, etc.
Then, the spank becomes the hit, because the kid is used to the spank and does not respond to it.
Then, the hit becomes the repeated attack...
and the kid just hates the parent, and can't attach meaning to any of the punishments.
The idea is not to outlaw spanking- it's to actually teach parenting skills! Well before they leave middle school,
because by high school we've got drug use and kids dropping out and hormones and all sorts of other thigns thatmake them tune out...

Answer 9

I don't think a swat on the butt should be something the government gets any say in. All children should be protected from abuse, but, the government has too much say in everything we do now. Parents have gotten so they are afraid to parent their children for fear of charges being brought against them.

Answer 10

I'll put it this way; ever since spanking became such a negative topic, that has been the time period that criminals have been getting younger and younger. There have even been killings and attempts, and rapes and attempted rapes, at single digit ages since that time. It may not be nice,but it works. Punishment isn't supposed to be pleasant, whether it's a spanking to a child, or prison for an adult. It's simple Skinnerian stimulus-response.

Answer 11

I think that is absolutely ridiculous. The government should not tell you how to raise your child. All kids of my generation were spanked and everyone I know who's my age turned out just fine, and we love and repect our parents. It is sickening how much the government has shoved their noses this far into people's private lives. This is why you can't go to the mall or out to eat without listening to some screaming brat who's parents can't control them. Those kids have no incentive to behave.