I noticed this thread a couple of times when browsing thru during my PM pick ups and given i have alot of experience in this area and with the laws in question (and related proposals and laws currently in action) i felt i had to comment given how crap the thread was on such an important topic.
Odeon, do you think that the rise in violence in public schools today is due to parents who spank. is that teaching them violence?
God, I hope not. While I'm against spanking, I do believe that the vast majority of parents that disagree with me on this are convinced that they do the right thing. It would be horrible if spanking would result in more violence.
You'd have to ask a psychologist or some kind of professional.
Actually it is a proven fact that the use of physical or mental punishment (which is what the fear of a smacking or beating is) is ineffective and can indeed be extremely counter productive, children who have been physically punished no matter how minor the spanking is, are more prone and likely to engage in antisocial conduct and offending behaviour (infact that has been proven). Many psychologist and academics are in support of a ban on corporal punishment in the family, not just because of the benefits for the children but for society as a whole. Sweden thanks to its ban on the use of corporal punishment in 1979 has led to many positive outcomes. There were many objectives of the ban, and many reasons for integrating such a ban, however the ban itself in Sweden had actually helped in a large way when it came to earlier identification of children at risk of abuse and therefore a major reduction in child abuse rates also a reduction in youth crime and youth suicide which has been noted by forensic and criminal psychologists (which has been shown in Sweden since 1979). Sweden even though it has some flaws in some other areas, actually has provided one of the best models of child protection (especially when it comes to violence), and its understandable why other countries have tried to emulate that. Italy took the positive note of it and has emulated it and even Israel has recently gotten envolved in the realisation that corporal punishment is in breach of human rights, has flaws when it comes to child protection, not to mention development later on.
The proposal for anti smacking (corporal punishment in the family) laws not just in the US, but even here in the UK are there or being proposed for a reason, there are many loopholes in the legal systems, and easy defences for parents when it comes to using physical and mental abuse (even in transparent abuse of a child). Which if any of you took the time to take a close look at the Law and studies in their own country aswell as others, also child protection services, and investigated a bit further elsewhere you would soon realise why so many people in the child protection and humanitarian sectors want these types of sanctions and laws to go through to give children the same protection and freedom from violence and freedom from fear of violence or threats that adults are free from and gifted with. Smacking a child doesnt just prove problematic for their psychological and isocial development, or problematic for people who work in child protection or in the legal services, but physical punishment of a child is actually also a breach of laws already present, its just a case of it hasnt really been challenged till recently (besides Sweden who did it in 79).
I could sit here and go through case by case where parents have gotten away with abusing their child both physically AND even mentally where it has been deemed lawful or their right or theyve believed it was their right, but have gotten away with it due to available defences and loopholes (which are too hard to close up without the use of a ban on corporal punishment like in Sweden), and let me tell you, anyone who is aware of what i am going on about or with any genuine experience or understanding of the way things work when it comes to child abuse, violence to children, mental abuse to children, problems with psychological, emotional and social development due to corporal punishment and the way their parents interpret or dish it out, and not to mention the many problems when it comes to child protection and using the law in relation to it, would understand the need for such laws to go through and be in support of them. Things are hard enough trying to protect children.
The defence of reasonable chastisement has been to blame for many parents and guardians getting away with even what most human beings would call extreme physical and/or mental abuse, children have been left with their abusers and emotionally damaged thanks to the barbaric outdated moronic assumption that parents have the god given right to physically punish their child aslong as they claim reasonable chastisement, they believe that the force used was what was required to reach the disciplinary goal, or because they believe they act from a reasonable and proper belief that the method of punishment used was an appropriate disciplinary measure.
You would also think that people would have more common sense when it comes to hitting a baby, but thats not true, especially in the UK where more than three quarters of one year olds, and more than half of all babies have been smacked and punished.
Section 58 of the Children Act 2004 is quite good here in the sense of how its tried to close loopholes but even then its got its escape loops and the professionals know that even it isnt good enough to address some of the problems, its just the best of the bunch, and a starting point, which most in the child protection services etc, hope will be developed further. (me being one)
Odeon you get a plus 1 from me for your stance on this issue, and you and your children are very lucky being in Sweden when it comes to the views on corporal punishment in the family and it being a country which offers wider protection for children compared to most. The rates and studies show exactly how more evolved your country is when it comes to the protection of children in relation to chastisement, physical punishment etc and the benefits of the laws that were introduced in 1979, especially in relation to the fantastic low levels of child abuse, violence, youth crime and youth suicide since it was put into action and your country welcomed it.
Your kids will benefit immensely from your non smacking views, but im sure you already know that and i am one of many who is thankful that your country paved the way when it came to child protection in this area. +1
There HG has spoken and has now disappeared back to her abode.
