Very recently, dr. Murray Straus and dr. Elizabeth Gershoff presented the results of a review that showed that corporal punishment during childhood is associated with a higher risk of deviant sexual behaviour later in life. Dr. Straus stated that some 90% of U.S. parents spank their kids, although this method is not more effective than other non-violent education and disciplinary approaches.

Time is still needed for a critical appraisal of this surprising report. However, reactions from parents across the US came to light in an impressive number, on various websites. The immense majority were strongly in favor of occasional spanking as an effective and necessary part of a healthy child education, while simultaneously rejecting its use as a systematic means of coercion or as a pointless discharge of violence from abusive parents upon innocent children.

In 1999, the highest court in the state of Massachusetts ruled that parents could spank their children as long as it didn't cause serious bodily harm. In 2005, a group of Massachusetts lawmakers proposed a bill to declare "the willful infliction of physical pain on children under 18," illegal. However, this was later dropped out, especially after seeing that 87% of 13,671 voters on the Boston Channel website disapproved the idea. More recently, in November 2007, legislators on Beacon Hill were again set to consider a proposed ban on spanking children in the commonwealth. The State Rep. Jay Kaufman filed the spanking ban petition at the request of Kathleen Wolf, an Arlington nurse, who wanted Massachusetts to become the first state in the country to stop corporal punishment. Again, this project was abandoned, considering the overwhelming 95% opposing voters on the Boston Chanell web site.

It is worth mentioning that, in January 2007, a similar anti-spank law was was suggested in California, but had to be withdrawn one month later, after a "heavy ridiculization" of the campaign.

Personally, I have interviewed two fellow pediatricians, one medical psychologist and one educator in a school for children with mental disabilities. Basically, their opinions were unanimously against using corporal punishment as a systematic disciplinary approach. On the other hand, they agreed that the popularity of spanking in most US families is not to be ignored. They believe that parents have undeniable rights as educators of their own children. Traditional beliefs, practices, and experiences regarding children education within the family are not to be reviled or rejected. A sensible and balanced approach, using both punishment and non-punishment techniques is probably the best attitude, as long as the constant and fundamental elements of the parent-child relationship remain mutual love and respect.

In conclusion, considering the doubtful interpretation of the results reported by dr. Straus and dr. Gershoff, the overwhelming public opposition to the spanking ban laws, as well as the previous failed attempts to pass such laws, there are little reasons to believe that Massachusetts lawmakers may consider for the third time assuming an obviously unpopular project.

Learn more about this author, Sal Levy.
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