Bible has some other choice pieces of advice that are not what I called enlightened either.
What does it teach a child that their parent needs to use a hard object to beat them? Physical violence of such nature against children are the mark of a weak person.
Proverbs 23:13-14Spanking a child's bottom is not physical violence. For me, it takes a great deal more strength to carry through with discipline in the form of a spanking rather than consistenly telling a child to "stop that or else...", which get's no results. Spanking is not necessarily to be done as the sole form of punishment, but the threat of a quick effective consequence is key for getting a child to readily obey a parent. The real temptation is to NOT spank or carry through with a punishment that we really don't want to inflict on our children.
(13) Do not hold back discipline from the child, Although you strike him with the rod, he will not die.
(14) You shall strike him with the rod And rescue his soul from Sheol.
Proverbs 13:24
(24) He who withholds his rod hates his son, But he who loves him disciplines him diligently.
He's a real tough guy, isn't he now? Let's see how tough he is after a few days in jail. I'd say something needed to be done to catch HIS attention, Being a coward as child-beaters are*, he probably won't do it again.
*They would never raise a hand to a woman or a child if they thought they would get the snot beaten out of them in return.