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Court: Parents May Spank
ctnow.com (Hartford Courant) ^ | November 30, 2004 | COLIN POITRAS

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 ...


TOPICS: Front Page News; US: Connecticut; Unclassified
KEYWORDS: discipline; feverishly; parenting; spanking; theirmonkey
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To: blurb
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)

Probably because we don't accept your premise that they are the same thing. Duh.

161 posted on 11/30/2004 12:37:21 PM PST by TXBubba ( Democrats: If they don't abort you then they will tax you to death.)
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To: MaineRepublic
When I see kids today still being hit, it is usually in trailer parks, or the families look pretty poor and ignorant.

So in your opinion, people who are poor, ignorant, and live in trailer parks, are trash.

I read ya. You're just a plain old looking down your nose, yankee busybody. Your opinion no longer carries any weight with me.

162 posted on 11/30/2004 12:37:36 PM PST by American_Centurion (I am the martyrs' bane.)
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To: lepton

I think you missed my point, which had to do with the subjectivity of what's appropriate corporal punishment.


163 posted on 11/30/2004 12:37:48 PM PST by Labyrinthos
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To: TalonDJ
Once when he was around 10 or so he "liberated" a $5 bill from his Mom's purse.....
When the spanking came around he said ...

"You Can't spank me ..
it's child abuse...
I'll call the police"

I reached into my pocket and tossed him a quarter.. saying
"Use that to call an ambulance, cause if I'm going to jail..
your going to the hospital"

He got a puzzled look on his face, and we both busted out laughing..

He got a reprieve that night... the lesson was learned

We both still laugh about it
164 posted on 11/30/2004 12:38:21 PM PST by Robe (Rome did not create a great empire by talking, they did it by killing all those who opposed them)
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To: American_Centurion

I make note the fact that you find it impossible to make your point without name-calling. Sorry, but it doesn't reflect very well on your position.

OK, so if it would be a dependent offspring (say a retarded adult child) would it be OK to spank them with a belt and leave a bruise? Is it OK to spank the mentally ill or retarded?


165 posted on 11/30/2004 12:39:02 PM PST by blurb
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To: blurb

There is a middle ground of discipline. It isn't either spanking or a completely undisciplined child. I'm sure we all know parents who don't do a thing to discipline their kids. I see it way too often. Parents who don't want to ever be the "bad" person and set boundaries and limits. In my opinion that is just as bad as the other extreme of hitting your kid to discipline them.


166 posted on 11/30/2004 12:39:39 PM PST by MaineRepublic (Talk sense to a fool and he calls you foolish. -- Euripides)
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To: MaineRepublic
no...that was abuse....she punched her daughter several times in the head......

Spanking to me means wearing out the posterior, with an open hand, if it is required to maintain harmony and discipline in the family unit.


I can remember.....grandma would cut a switch out of a tree and wear my hide out....Only needed it about twice a year :-)
167 posted on 11/30/2004 12:40:54 PM PST by halfright (3,000 Americans murdered 9/11, Never forgive, never forget, be ready to defend your family)
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To: blurb

I stand by my pinhead statement from before.

You are asking ignorant questions in order to elicit a response. You have no intention of debating.

I'll tell you this, if it is not your dependent offspring, it ain't your business.


168 posted on 11/30/2004 12:41:01 PM PST by American_Centurion (I am the martyrs' bane.)
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To: MaineRepublic
When I see kids today still being hit, it is usually in trailer parks, or the families look pretty poor and ignorant.

That's because their houses are too small to keep everything hidden inside from the public view like wealthier people can do.

169 posted on 11/30/2004 12:41:53 PM PST by eccentric (aka baldwidow)
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To: MaineRepublic

I had my butt warmed numerous times when I was young. I'd also like to add that these spankings occurred at the hands of my college educated parents in the $2 million home I grew up in.

You can't make gross generalizations about how parents discipline their children without angering a lot of people. Every child is different, and if a parent finds that a spanking is the most effective way to get an important message through to a child then I'm all for it.


170 posted on 11/30/2004 12:41:53 PM PST by Serb5150 (Christlich leben selig sterben ist das beste das wir erben.)
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To: American_Centurion

Talk about thin-skin.


171 posted on 11/30/2004 12:41:56 PM PST by MaineRepublic (Talk sense to a fool and he calls you foolish. -- Euripides)
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To: MaineRepublic

I agree with everything you write here... was there anything I wrote that led you to think that I believe differently?


172 posted on 11/30/2004 12:42:57 PM PST by blurb
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To: MaineRepublic

"But really, only trash hit their kids."

I think that is an extreme and insulting statement. There is an enormous difference between "beating" a child and spanking a child. I do not think they are the same at all. I have, on exceptional occasions, spanked my three kids, when they were younger, under the age of 10 actually. My youngest will be 16 in January. I AM NOT TRASH. I am a parent who loves her children more than my own life.

Spanking was always done as a last resort in response to a child whose attention could not be obtained in another way. Done to correct any situation that I, a responsible parent, felt needed to be corrected. My goal has been to raise well mannered and responsible children. You are very fortunate if your children were receptive to discussion, reasonng, time outs and deprivation of favorite toys. That just does not work with all children.

You referred earlier to the "mother" caught on video slapping and "beating" her little daughther in the parking lot after the child misbehaved in that store. This woman was not disciplining her little girl. She was having a temper tantrum of her own and venting on the helpless child. If I recall correctly, she had also been denied a questional refund by the store, and was most probably ticked off at being denied the money. Please don't equate repulsive behavior like that with responsible, loving discipline directed toward a child God has placed in the care of a loving mom or dad. Okay?

pattyjo


173 posted on 11/30/2004 12:44:01 PM PST by pj_627
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To: MaineRepublic
Proverbs 13
24 He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.

It is child abuse to not discipline your children.
174 posted on 11/30/2004 12:44:11 PM PST by HuntsvilleTxVeteran (Dan Rather called Saddam "Mister President and President Bush "bush")
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To: blurb

No, I was basically emphasizing your point with my own take on discipline.

I don't believe the old "every child is different" argument. The child is different because they were allowed to get that way from lack of discipline at the necessary points in their development.


175 posted on 11/30/2004 12:45:39 PM PST by MaineRepublic (Talk sense to a fool and he calls you foolish. -- Euripides)
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To: kidd

Quite frankly, after 8 kids, I've decided to raise cats. Same mess, less stress.--- and I can get them fixed before they breed...


176 posted on 11/30/2004 12:45:46 PM PST by eccentric (aka baldwidow)
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To: MaineRepublic
I don't believe the old "every child is different" argument.

Liberal Troll.

177 posted on 11/30/2004 12:46:46 PM PST by TXBubba ( Democrats: If they don't abort you then they will tax you to death.)
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To: MaineRepublic; American_Centurion; 2Jedismom
Do you think you have enough intellectual capacity to carry on a conversation without resorting to insults?

Hey, it's not like he called 'em trash.

But I guess that answers the question. For you at least.

178 posted on 11/30/2004 12:47:30 PM PST by Corin Stormhands (It's beginning to look a lot like RamaHanuKwanzMas)
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To: TXBubba

What?

Oh brother.

Read my tagline.


179 posted on 11/30/2004 12:48:23 PM PST by MaineRepublic (Talk sense to a fool and he calls you foolish. -- Euripides)
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To: Corin Stormhands

Who was I insulting?


180 posted on 11/30/2004 12:48:53 PM PST by MaineRepublic (Talk sense to a fool and he calls you foolish. -- Euripides)
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