We live in an era in which critical masses of parents do “time outs” rather than spanking.
I think we would all agree that beating children, physical assault, is not what we want to see happen. We want to see appropriate discipline, sometimes physical if needed.
Years ago, parents were free to spank their children. Now they aren’t.
Years ago, schools were allowed to administer corporal punishment. Now they aren’t. Nowadays, it’s against the law for authorities in schools to physically touch a child, otherwise be charged with assault.
Anecdotal evidence is that there are many ill mannered misbehaving children and teens when you go out in public. I think part of that is that parents today are not allowed to discipline children in the same manner as past generations could do.
I always laugh a time out a bit. It assumes a somewhat compliant child. Mine would just get up and leave from the chair unless physically restrained.
We resorted to taking away blankets/stuffed animals, putting the dog out, no dinner, etc.