To spank or not to spank? This is the hot question of the moment directed towards parents and child caretakers in California. Recently a Democratic Assemblywoman, Sally Lieber (who has no children of her own), introduced a bill making it a crime to spank children three years and younger. A year in jail or $1,000 fine is the proposed punishment. Although Lieber received a lot of raised eyebrows it is not that far-fetched. Currently, across the pond, there are 19 countries that have banned spanking. In 1979, Sweden was the first country to institute laws to safeguard children from cruelty by adults.

Presently, it is legal in all 50 states for a parent to spank, hit, belt, paddle, whip or inflict corrective pain on a child, as long as the corporal punishment does not meet the definition of child abuse, according to that individual state’s law. The greater part of the country’s law claims that as long as it is reasonable and age appropriate then it is OK. The majority of state laws define child abuse as unreasonable discipline, such as: throwing, kicking, burning, cutting, striking with a fist, interfering with breathing, threatening with a deadly weapon, or anything that will cause external marks of injury.
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While Liber is trying to pass the law in California for children who are three years and younger, school-aged children are affected currently. California, alongside 29 other states, has banned corporal punishment in both public and private schools. In 23 states it has been deemed OK to use a paddle or other methods of reprimands on children at their school (regardless whether it is public or private).

Although laws have been passed in states and countries, who exactly should determine disciplinary action on a child? It is all a matter of opinion, tradition, morals and beliefs? Child endangerment should not be justified by anyone, yet others feel that the government should not step in.

“Where do you stop?” asked assemblyman Chuck DeVore (R). “At what point are we going to say we should pass a bill that every parents has to read a minimum of 30 minutes every night to their child? This is right along those same lines.”

Another argument that has surfaced refers to emotional and verbal abuse. The law does not state that either act is unlawful. With a ban on physical abuse, who is to say that the child’s authority figure would not resort to other forms of abuse?

Furthermore, if this law were to be passed does this mean it’s OK for authority figures to abuse children who are three years and older?

There are plenty of sides to punitive actions, ranging from authority figures who use it as a form of repeated restraint, to those who do it occasionally, to those who refuse to. Along with different forms of punishment, there are different psychological effects it has on children. Some say it could damage a child’s self-esteem while others say infrequent punishment is OK. Oftentimes, it is suggested to take other nonviolent alternatives into account such as time out, speaking in a stern tone of voice, and revoking a child’s privileges.

There is an abundance of studies on either side of the spectrum, which prove either point. The duality of this issue makes it hard for the court to pass the law.

There will be forevermore an argument as to what is right in regards to discipline. Although states are trying to protect children it does not necessarily mean it will stop child abuse.

Source: MercuryNews.com

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