Posted on 11/30/2004 11:20:24 AM PST by kidd
Parents who spank their children as a form of discipline are not necessarily engaging in child abuse, even when they use a belt and leave a bruise, the state Appellate Court has said.
In a ruling released Monday, the judges recognized a parent's right to use "reasonable physical force" to discipline a child. They said that, before citing someone for physical abuse, the Department of Children and Families must take into account the circumstances surrounding the use of corporal punishment.
The judges said the agency's position that any non-accidental injury caused by a parent to a child qualifies as abuse is too narrow and in conflict with state law that allows "reasonable" corporal punishment of a child.
(Excerpt) Read more at ctnow.com ...
Whadda know? It was yogurt for lunch. If he didn't eat it, he would go without. Needless to say, he went without.
Apf
I think I'm beginning to see why you were disciplined the way you say. I think you just may be a little bit of a glutton for punishment.
Hey, I've been on Usenet for 12 years. My skin can stop bullets. ;)
Now how do you expect to have a civil dicussion with people if you start off by calling their parents anb themselves 'trash'? Call me crazy, but some people might be offended by that.
Some of my other favorite lines:
Mom: Eat your beans.
Me: I'm not hungry.
Mom: Think of all the starving kids in China.
Me: Name me one. (or, Then send them my beans... here's a quarter for the postage.)
That is what I was trying to say. You know, I don't remember my parents ever yelling at me either...as punishment. And although I remember getting spankings I never had a sick to my stomach fear. But that is because my parents didn't abuse me. They disciplined me and I knew when I got my spanking exactly why I was getting it.
For starters, the example given wasn't a smack, it was a full-on wailing of a toddler. If the ADULT had received that it would have been seriously risking injury.
disregard last, intended for someone else.
My fault.
But was the dreaded 'wooden spoon' sanctioned as an instrument of "discipline"?
Mothers of Italian descent would be most affected...:-)
I tend to make abrasive statements that will elicit dialogue.
When I see kids today still being hit, it is usually in trailer parks, or the families look pretty poor and ignorant. I believe you can effectively discipline a child without resorting to hitting. It requires more effort on the part of parents than hitting, but it is just as, if not more effective.
Hey 2J! When do you slip in here :)
No sweat. I figured it wasn't intended for me . . . :-D
I think the punishment varies with child and will change with ages. Like I said in the earlier post. My son now responds to time outs whereas they did not work at age 2. Also, I understand that emergency room folks can tell if a bruise was caused by abuse (fist) etc. Worried once because my son had a big bruise from a fall. Mentioned it to a nurse friend and she assured me they can tell the abusive ones from the accident ones.
No, that was when she found a social worker to complain to.
Why do people on this forum get *so* defensive and up in arms at the heretical suggestion that just maybe, spanking and hitting (same thing) are not the optimal way to discipline children? Is it really that hard to put down the defensiveness for a moment to think about the issue rationally and reasonably?
Just for the record: Being anti-corporal punishment isn't strictly a liberal domain. I live in a *very* conservative community. But we are also "compassionate conservatives," which means that we think seriously about the negative effects of spanking and work hard to come up with alternative, more compassionate and sane ways to instill our values in our children. In my community there are also many parenting groups and lectures being offered all the time to help parents develop better skills. Almost all my friends are conservative and most of them disagree with spanking as a discipline tool.
You are BAAAAAAAAAD...........I don't think Mr. Spanky would go over real well on this thread.
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