Spanking and Why it Is an Approved Method of Discipline

¶ … spanking is an approved method of discipline in the schoolroom. Spanking is a controversial form of punishment, and many people do not believe in spanking as a discipline measure. However, spanking does have a place in the discipline of a child if it is used correctly.

Spanking

Families have used spanking as a method of disciplining children for centuries, and it has been used in school systems as a punishment, as well. While a large segment of society seems to frown on spanking, a large number of parents say they use spanking as a tool in their family. A group of authors note, "In fact, in a national study, more than 90% of parents reported that they had used spanking as a way of disciplining their young children, and the vast majority of adults (approximately 80%) endorsed the use of spanking" (Hanson, Smith & Fricker-Elhai, 2004, p. 453). This is an approved method of discipline because most families have used spanking in the past, and most children do not enjoy being spanked, so they will learn from the spanking and stop the behavior that induced the spanking in the first place. In an interesting correlation, some family studies indicate that there is more approval for spanking in the black community, and that black children may actually "expect" this form of punishment as a form of "tough love." Two other authors note, "A further example of how difficult it can be to measure parenting relates to findings that spanking has less negative consequences for black than white children. Spanking may be more normative for the black children, and it may occur in the context of warm parenting -- that is, tough love" (Brooks-Gunn & Markman, 2005). Spanking is not of course connected to physical abuse, which is another issue entirely. The group of authors continues, "In general, physical abuse usually refers to actions that leave a mark or bruise on the child" (Hanson, Smith & Fricker-Elhai, 2004, p. 453). If a parent spanks a child that hard, it is child abuse, and this discussion assumes that spanking will be mild, more of a swat on the bottom than a major assault on the child.

The Rationale for Selecting Spanking

The rationale for selecting this topic is that it is quite controversial, but most parents admit they use spanking as a disciplines, sometimes even though they do not "believe" in spanking (Diller, 2008, p. 42). I also believe that mild spanking is an effective form of punishment, and that it is often misunderstood and misapplied. Many studies also show that spanking seems to help the child in many areas of achievement and behavior, as is discussed in more detail in my position on the topic.

Position on the Topic

My position on the topic is that spanking does work, and that it is in context with a loving family relationship, despite criticism. A 15-year study by a University of California at Berkeley psychologist found mild spanking helped glue the family together. A writer notes, "Families where parents occasionally employed spanking (defined as one or two open swats on the bottom of a child between the ages of two and six) as one form of discipline within an otherwise loving context did marginally better over the long-term than the very few families that abjured spanking entirely" (Diller, 2008, p. 42). This study is correlated by others, which indicate spanking is a preventative of later problems in life. Author Diller continues, referring to a study on behavior after a Swedish ban on all spanking. He writes, "Yet a critical look at the evidence there reveals very mixed results. While parents report less spanking, children who grew up since the Swedish ban show a sixfold increase in criminal assaults compared with the previous generation, along with major increases in juvenile delinquency and substance abuse" (Diller, 2008, p. 42). I believe that spanking teaches children boundaries far more effectively than "reasoning" with the child or giving "time outs." A child understands that spanking is uncomfortable, and they know they can tell their parents limits, but they will pay a price for that testing. I believe it teaches responsibility and makes the child accountable for their actions, which is not the case with other forms of punishment.

How Position Affects Role as a Parent Educator