"Corporal punishment is the deliberate infliction of pain intended to punish a person or change his/her behavior. Historically speaking, most punishment, whether in judicial, domestic, or educational settings, were corporal in basis. A campaign called "Global Initiative To End All Corporal Punishment Of Children" hopes to achieve full prohibition of all corporal punishment of children worldwide. The UN Study on Violence against Children sets a target date of 2009 for universal prohibition,[1] including in the home. School discipline in the West generally avoids physical correction altogether. The United States, where paddling remains legal in several states, is now the only significant exception to this (Canadian corrective force is widely reported[2] as being of a non-corporal nature). In most European countries it was banned at varying points in the 20th century. On the other hand, school corporal punishment, though probably on the decline overall, is lawful and remains in use in various other parts of the world, and is commonplace in some countries in Africa, the Caribbean and Asia, notably in former British territories but also in a few countries that were never under British rule, such as South Korea and (until very recently) Thailand. According to the Global Initiative in 2007, at least 88 countries do not prohibit the use of corporal punishment in schools, and 147 countries do not prohibit it within alternative care settings.[3]

Unofficially, physical punishment in schools also persists in some countries where it is technically illegal, such as South Africa and China.

Corporal punishment is still widely used by parents in the home, but as of 2008 it has been legally banned in 24 countries. These bans are mostly of recent date.[4] The exemption of corporal punishment from criminal assault in Canada stipulates that the assailant must be a teacher or parent (or guardian assuming all the obligations of a parent), that the force must be used "by way of correction" (sober, reasoned uses of force that address the actual behaviour of the child and are designed to restrain, control or express some symbolic disapproval of his or her behaviour), the child must be capable of benefiting from the correction (ie: not under the age of 2, etc), the use of force must also be "reasonable under the circumstances" - ie: it results neither in harm nor in the prospect of bodily harm. Corporal punishment which involves slaps or blows to the head is harmful.[5]"

- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corporal_punishment

Discuss.

I'm more old school when it comes to this. I was spanked frequently in my childhood when I did things that were unacceptable. Looking back at it now I don't fault my parents for doing it but I am actually glad they did so. It helped me to be a better person in my opinion. I now have a daughter but I have never spanked her even once and she is very spoiled and hardly ever listens. I think a lot of the younger generation nowadays just don't respect their elders/parents/grandparents as much as they should. Now I'm not saying a child should be beaten but I'm not against reasonable discipline.

I've seen the affects "talking" to a child has when they've done something wrong, and I've learned that a little bit of pain can actually help reinforce the notion that what they did was wrong. When a baby goes toward a power outlet don't we usually talk sternly to them and maybe even slap their hand. We don't do it to be mean, but out of love and for their safety. Why would we change our technique and motive when they get older?

Quite frankly, it works. All things in moderation!

Pain is a universal language, grim as it sounds. Even an animal knows not to stick it's nose where it hurts.

Quite frankly, it's primitive. It might work, but so do other things. Don't you even watch Supernanny? xD

I got spanked now and then... but that was at the time where it was acceptable. I don't think it's acceptable at all now. Teach kids that you can get things done and resolve things without resorting to violence by not spanking them... should lead for a better, less violent society in general, y/n?

In a perfect world, I agree. I'll leave it at that!

Surveys show kids are more likely to lie about things so they don't get hit again blah blah *throws paper at you all*

*calls campus police and has you arrested for assault*

You know, I could've just yelled or whipped you with a stick, but corporal punishment is wrong.

I'm not saying you should beat your kids but you have to admit that the kids nowadays are a lot more misbehaved then when I was younger. I get so pissed off when someone who has kids comes over to visit me at my house and they let their kids run all over the place destroying stuff and when you say something about it they just laugh it off or say kids are like that. My mom would have murdered me on the spot for what kids do nowadays. I don't fault my mom at all for my spankings. I really do feel it made me a better person. If my mom told me to sit in the corner or take a time out I think I would have laughed my head off. When she had a belt or switch in her hand there was no laughing to be had and you remembered it the next time.

I'm with you on this one 100%.

Damn kids. I need to get my own lawn so I can yell at them to keep off it.

There's certainly a lack of discipline these days. However, I think that corporal punishment is the easy way out... teach your kids there are consequences for bad things beyond a sore ass. Discipline your kids well without hitting them... it's definitely possible, and will teach them life lessons. When you do something wrong as an adult, you can get into trouble beyond a spanking. Take a civilised approach to discipline.

lolololololol

LOL!


Just wanted to say for the record that I have never actually laid a finger on my daughter. My wife has though but not brutality or anything. My daughter will obey me more than my wife, which is the funny part. I just take away her laptop, cellphone, tv privileges, game privileges, etc... I agree that it IS possible to do so without spankings but some kids nowadays are harder to control and it's their parents fault for letting them get like that in the first place.

I think we should merge this thread with the abortion one and then together try to figure out where the line for abortions should be drawn.

I assume the choices will range from conception to 18 years old. Let me be the first to say... 18 years old.

I'm noticing kids today with a lot less respect and generally toxic attitudes towards the world. Sure, it is a bitter place... glad they know it. But that doesn't excuse most children's poor behavior.

As for Corporal Punishment, I'm on the "it depends" line. I mean, sometimes if someone has done something really awful and completely unforgivable isn't a lot crueler to just leave them rot in prison. Besides, if its really that bad... fellow prisoners will take care of them anyway.

Anyone know someone that was in school when corporal punishment was allowed?
I know a teacher during that time; and I feel sorry for him.
Why? When the ban was lifted, he said the children realized all they could do to them now was kick them out of class (which technically, was what they wanted, out of the class) they drove him mad.
He had a nervous breakdown because of the unruly students.

Of course it's not that bad now, the kids got a taste of "freedom" and decided to grab as much as they can before it got stale. It got old after a while and most realized they where just throwing away their future.

But still, even know, what happens to the unruly students in class? They get kicked out of class. They end up (usually) without an education and (sometimes) become the scum of society. (Muggers and other petty criminals.)

Kicking them out of class is not a punishment, and honestly, can you think of anything other then giving them a good whack on the hands to shut them up and make them listen? Call their parents? Please.
The only reason some students would be afraid of a teacher calling their parents would be because they would give them a good whacking.

OR you could just TEACH your kids that if they DO act up in class, they WILL end up without and education, and live a crap life. Seriously, it's not that hard to work out. EDUCATE your kids properly, and you won't have to "whack" them! TRUST ME, I'VE SEEN IT WORK. (lawl)

And then there's also the fact that I don't want people who I don't know "whacking" my child. Maybe that's just me.

Haha, in the first paragraph I sound like I have Tourette's.

The problem is, the "unruly students" are usually the ones with very uncaring parents that don't bother teaching them anything.

"Uncaring" parents shouldn't be hitting their kids either.

Thing is, some kids don't give a crap.

This post was last modified: 10-09-2008 07:49 AM by lm-x.

I said "uncaring" not "abusive".
By uncaring I mean they don't discipline their child and don't give a **** about what they they do.
You know the ones; The ones that let their 4 year old children all go to the park 10 blocks away without parental or even older-children protection.

There's a difference between abuse and discipline.