“Congratulations to the writer who found the very small number of studies which support corporal punishment of children” – DeeNee

Author: Actually there are more studies to come. But thank you. Yes, it is hard to find studies when the media censors and/or hides them. That’s one of the major points some elites overlook.

What’s more, I have more faith in history and crime statistics than far-leftwing Australian professors, pontificating from a place of privilege. These are the same people who have no problems with partially aborting a “useless eater” but rail against a little spank.

I’d suggest that they need to leave the pro-spanking ethnic/ working-class families I know, the hell alone. They also should keep their noses out of Aboriginal tribal life/customs. Just leave parents alone.

I'm with you Jewely.

None of my three kids has ever experienced physical punishment from their parents, and all have grown to be perfectly normal and well-adjusted citizens.

My rationale was simply that if I gave way to the urge to hit, then I would have lost all power that comes from being right. Kids tend to notice that sort of thing - it's instinctive - and their respect for you and the path you wish to set them upon, decreases accordingly.

Even more simply, it is an admission of defeat.

But I guess that's a personal view. If the statistics say that spanking improves the child, then I guess it is still a viable means of discipline for some.

But to me it is still a total cop-out.

For Jewely and Pericles a question - you state that your children have never had physical punishment and have grown up perfectly well adjusted citizens. While I congratulate you for your achievement I have to ask, Where there any problems in your family lives? It seems to me that when ever I see someone stating that they did this that they have had seemingly perfect home lives. Can this still work when there are fractured family structures, illness, mental health issues (both child and parent), working on or below the poverty line, etc.? I have never seen it work in these far more common real world situations. So my question is - Is talk therapy as it has been called an all things being equal or a all things period method of raising a child?

BPT

Your piece is a just crude polemic, and with an unoriginal story of conspiracy and contrived marginalisation. If Gunnoe’s study is a credible scientific one, then explain it. At least you are correct to say that parents are not "Nazis".

I was relating my own experience, Arthur N, not advocating government policy.

>>So my question is - Is talk therapy as it has been called an all things being equal or a all things period method of raising a child?<<

Nothing is ever so conveniently black and white. We are in danger of finding ourselves in a no-win chicken-and-egg discussion: does a difficult family life generates the need for corporal punishment, or does the prevalence of corporal punishment leads to a difficult family life? I think such generalizations should be avoided, if at all possible.

But your list concerns me a little.

>>Can this still work when there are fractured family structures, illness, mental health issues (both child and parent), working on or below the poverty line, etc.?<<

I find the question itself impossible to answer, since setting boundaries and imposing discipline tends to be a personal issue between the parties, requiring a level of mutual respect.

However, I would suggest that none of your examples in itself forms a justification for beating kids.

Hey Pericles, good on you. I felt hitting was wrong, useless and best left to those who could not find a better way. I like kids so why would I hurt them was the basic thought I started with way back then.

Arthur let me think… separation from father, solo mum and very poor for a few years, custody disputes, chronic illness in one child, biological father died, I remarried.

Really about average I guess. Situations surrounding me and mine didn’t alter how I interacted or let others interact with my children.