by Summer Tyme

Created on: May 26, 2009

Does spanking work for disciplining children?

For several hundred years on this continent, spanking was not the usual method of discipline. The Native American peoples used other, less violent methods for teaching their young ones life lessons. These native peoples were successful in raising children who were able to take care of themselves and others. The very young were cared for; the very old were well-loved and respected by both youth and adult. Their methods for disciplining children worked.

Spanking children is usually carried out by those who were spanked as children. It comes as a natural reaction when the small child disobeys. To lash out with hand, hair brush, paddle or spoon to inflict pain comes easy to those who suffered this brand of discipline. It is a natural reaction to those thus treated. But natural reactions are not always the best reactions. They may even be referred to as 'knee-jerk' reactions.This term usually denotes the actor has not thought about the situation, but is reacting without thinking. This is not a good thing to do, especially when the object of the action is a child.

Consider this: in America, as was true in the Europe of the past, men could beat their wives. They may have been subject to using the 'rule of thumb' when 'disciplining' their wives, but they were allowed by law to hit the woman if she got out of line, or disobeyed. The rule of thumb meant that the stick used was not to be larger than the man's thumb. This was a common practice and in a lot of cases, it most likely worked to get the woman's attention and to keep her obedient to her husband. The question is, should it have been used; was it a method that worked in the same sense that spanking a child 'works'?

At one time, it was permissible to hit an employee if they were under-performing. What worker today would continue with a boss who regularly beat him? It is more likely the employee would call the police and even sue the employer and the company for damages, both physical and emotional. It is unlawful to hit another adult whether employee, employer, wife, husband, brother or stranger. Hitting another individual does not work for teaching life lessons or making a good point. Why then are parents still permitted, even encouraged, to hit their children as a means of teaching?

In the Bible, there is the phrase 'rod of discipline' and most people understand this to mean a physical rod. This scripture is used to support hitting with paddles, hands or

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