Worldfocus

08/23/2009 :: 05:18:58 PM
Eileen Niebisch Says:

Government should not have any authority over parents on how to discipline their children. Spanking without anger does more good than harm.
Government’s interference goes too far in allowing children to get abortions without parental notification and pushing the homosexual agenda in K-12 against parents wishes.

08/21/2009 :: 11:48:27 PM
Oscar in Miami Beach Says:

A slap in the rear at the right time is necesary and proper.My parents did not spared the rod and both my brother and I turned out pretty good.

08/21/2009 :: 11:46:45 PM
Robin Reid Says:

Discipline of one’s children should be a decision for the parents, and of nobody else. It is different if it becomes abuse, and the definition of abuse is where the disagreement starts. When I was in grade/high school (an all-boys Church of England school in England), we had punishments for misbehaving, anything from not doing homework to running in the corridors. The punishment was usually a choice between writing an essay and 3 “strokes” with a bamboo cane across your trousered bottom. Nearly everyone chose the cane, because it was quick (not the drudgery of writing an essay), quite memorable, and your parents would not find out.

08/21/2009 :: 11:45:56 PM
James Says:

Every child is different. How you discipline each child will be different. I have raised 6 children. For some a stern word and they respond. For some it required a sharp swat. Government involvement in normal discipline would be disastrous. Parents have a duty and obligation to properly discipline their children and guide them to into good citizens. I have ZERO confidence that any government program could do us any good.

08/21/2009 :: 10:48:29 PM
susan Says:

As I commented earlier a spanking is okay. I would also like to add that a spanking should only be used as the last action, as several warnings, talkings to, last ditch and then the final, okay, you knew it was coming and you continued on….shoot, it only lasts a few minutes and then its over, but you DO THINK ABOUT IT for a while afterwards! And it works. Ad far as passing it down, I think it makes you a little bit more sympathetic to your child as you remember what it felt like. Did it really hurt? NO…were you sorry? YES….Did it work? Yes it did, yes you didn’t do it again and yes when you grew up you appreciated it, that’s 3 yes’s for me!

08/21/2009 :: 10:37:59 PM
susan Says:

When I was a child and did something wrong, I got a smack, or spanking. I believe those spankings helped me, even though sometimes they were not deserved. When a child does something wrong and they do not receive a punishment they learn that doing something wrong is not punishable, that what you do in life doesnt matter and there are no bounderies or laws. Spankings or smacks set up bounderies for life. Even I stuck my hand on the stove after I was told not too and that was the same as a spanking! It is to what degree a spanking is rendered. If a parent gets out of control or over does it, then I think the government should protect the child or anyone that gets abused, but a spanking on the butt is okay as long as it doesnt go to other parts of the body, a good swift kick in the butt never hurt anyone, so a spanking is allowed. That is what is wrong with the world today! The government is taking too much control, thus giving the parent none. I think a spanking from a parent goes much deeper meaning to a child, so does a hugg or a kiss or a good word. The government would also have to give that to be both the punisher and the parent.

08/21/2009 :: 07:47:39 PM
The Melancholy Poet Says:

Would not the Manner Of Instruction
depend much on the Psychology Of The Child
as to whether any Form Of Punishment
should be somewhat Harsh or Mild?

Anyone can Punish
but to Give…(Selah!)
a good Wisdom Instruction
a better Finish
(as did the Ancient
Egyptian Sages
to their Attentive
Students of Old)
surely means more
than lavishing…(Selah)
Unnecessary Abuse
to those
Spiritual Regions Of Youth
where ’tis possible still
before the moments of Maturity
come forth (Selah)
to create
the Destruction
Of The Child
which may be lurking
within
in its Nebulous Incipiency
along the truce-created
Borders Of Forming Evolutions
Of Impending Attitudes
which will inevitably prevail
in the Life
despite the first
Fixed Nature of any Methodology
which often shifts
by Necessity
within the genealogy of
Personality and its
Etymological Nuances
of the Human Language
Terminologies used.

Not Everything can rest
within the Open Palms
of the Hands of Man.

One Sandal cannot fit
the variably sized feet
of All which must Walk
through the Sandgrains
of our Lives
passing Time…
by Way of this
Desert Life.

What would the
Thousands Of Years Gaze
of the
Sphinx at Giza
Say…or Do?

(Selah/Pause…
while This is Considered.)

08/21/2009 :: 07:03:42 PM
Thomas L Says:

Government interferance represents an unwarranted intrusion into the privacy and autonomy of parenthood. The autonomy to make one’s own decision about risks to subject a child to is not to be interfered with lightly. It should only be done in cases where there is a substantial threat of severe harm to the child,

08/21/2009 :: 06:51:51 PM
Phillip Boyd Says:

I think Newzelanders got it right. Government should stay out of how we parent or reprimand our children.
When we were small, our parents spanked us(my brothers and sisters)and we grew up unscaved.
We all have children and our children have children and their children…
“Spair the rod and spoil the child”
Don’t beat them, but let them know that there are consequences. And some far worse than a spanking!

08/21/2009 :: 06:27:08 PM
Miles Amblish Says:

To Estelle,
There are a host of problems with using “models and conviction that love pays out” as a means of correcting children. Its a difficult lesson to teach and you are choosing a method which maximizes ambiguity (even in adults) and minimal impact because its being delivered with the message that they can take it or leave it; the result of your method of teaching is unpredictable which is unfortunate since bad outcomes are exceeding more likely than good. Objectively, I am not sure that children are capable to distinguishing between “love pays out” and neglect.
Even if I am completely wrong and your use of “models and conviction that love pays out” bears out, when those children leave home it will be like throwing hot house flowers into the snow outside.

08/21/2009 :: 06:14:09 PM
debra kajer Says:

Violence never solves anything long-term. Hitting or smacking is violence. When someone with a size advantage hits a smaller person, it is especially offensive. when children are hit to punish their misdeeds it sends them the message that this is the consequence of certain unwanted behavior. These same kids are likely to become adults who hit their kids as a means of punishment. On & on it goes. The cycle never ends.

08/21/2009 :: 05:49:07 PM
Estelle Says:

We want children to develop into caring, competant adults. They need models and conviction that love pays off. When children see that we care about their feelings they learn to modify their behavior,rather than risk losing the parents approval and warmth. Spanking gives a different message. Top down, it says to a child,your needs and your feelings don’t count…what counts is what we (parents) want, and because we’re bigger and more powerful than you (child) we can force you to our ways. That approach teaches children that fight is might. They pass that message on to other kids who are weaker than them or they wait their turn until they’re big enough to strike back at adults in power.Ideally, children can be helped to learn how to use language rather than fists to express their needs and to learn about fairness, compromise and caring for others.

08/21/2009 :: 05:07:29 PM
Miles Amblish Says:

To Ms LuAnne Codella, MD, RN, C.Ac.,
There is two camps on the issue on whether it is right to use physical punishment on children. You stand in the non-violent camp believing that children have developed sufficiently to appreciate compassionate communications and that debate can change behavior. If your view point is right then the same methods should work even better on more developed adults in which case criminality would disappear.
It is sad that reality is harsher and less yielding to such dreams.

08/21/2009 :: 05:00:00 PM
Bobby Says:

I agree with Bill. There are times, ie: extremely bad behavior, that warrant a smack on the bum. I worked for me and it worked for my very well behaved children. Sometimes all those degrees don’t mean much when it comes to reality.

08/21/2009 :: 04:38:39 PM
LuAnne Codella,MD,RN,C.Ac. Says:

Smacking children is never the answer to bring up children with cogent self esteem, positive behaviors to imperfect human foibles. Adults must learn to communicate with our most fragile children with patience, compassion, and tools that promote a nonviolent response. If New Zealand’s people feel they can not manage doing so without violence, than perhaps they ought to require a certificate indicating they have the proper training. The ‘ripple’ effect of bullying children survives for generations. It infects the playgrounds, class rooms, jails, and even high level management corporations. Just ask Mr Bill Clinton, or Hilary.At least it was up for discussion in New Zealand, unlike other ‘civilized’, developed countries. Say no to Bullying!Find a better way to care about the ones you love the most. It will certainly pay off in the long run.

08/21/2009 :: 04:27:45 PM
Bill Says:

Within reason a good smack on the kids bum is
justified.