Smacking Children- should it be banned?

[Mossy]

My old headteacher once recieved a letter from a parent suggesting they should bring back capital punishment We hope it was a genuine mistake..

Most people get capitol and corporal punishment mixed up

[colincliff]

Why do you think society is in such of a mess at the moment with kids all under 18 going round stabbing each other, happy slapping and killing people left right and centre?

Do you honestly think that lack of corporal punishment in school is the reason for a minority of violent behaviour from young people?

The VAST majority of young people are respectful and well behaved. I personally see much more petty aggression and violence from adults, but most of it doesnt get into papers.

I think most of the kids 'killing people left right and centre' dont have the best adult roll models, and a few smacks from a teachers wouldnt change this.

i.e you do something wrong at school and you get hit, so of someone does something wrong to you its ok to give them a kicking?

[Mossy]

The VAST majority of young people are respectful and well behaved. I personally see much more petty aggression and violence from adults, but most of it doesnt get into papers.

Were do you live? Isle of Man or similar non mainland uk address?

I think most of the kids 'killing people left right and centre' dont have the best adult roll models, and a few smacks from a teachers wouldnt change this.

Maybe not but you rarely had the problems we have now in corporal punishment days as they were disiplined to the point they knew right from wrong and in them days if there was a crime it usually was the adults. Corporal punishment was usually the cain rather than a smack they were disaplined at school and home with full support of parents so children learnt respect to others, elders so forth

i.e you do something wrong at school and you get hit, so of someone does something wrong to you its ok to give them a kicking?

silly statement comon sense not accessable in your statement here I thinks, obviously in modern days violence does not solve anything, but generally when corporal punishment was in at schools the teacher caining the pupils did not teach them to hit people back becuase they were taught this from being cained they learnt not to do it again or they know whats coming, I mean look at the older generation now and try to imagine the future generation that should answer your silly statement.

[dracula]

This is a strange one, i am not too sure what to decide really.

[agriffith]

We got paddled in school, but I never got smacked at home. When I think of getting smacked, I think of getting hit in the face or something. That seems kind of wrong. But, it's just a smack on the rear end, that's a different story.

[Bazzlad]

Banning Smacking will not stop child abuse, much in the same way that banning handguns stopped gun crime.

[Workaholic]

Oh oh, I have something to add, yesterday I saw a "father" smack his kid in the shop I work in, I was so tempted to press the little "red" button on the local store net radio / walkie talkie and get reinforcements in.

Still wonder what would have happened....... (the kid was still very happy after so I kept my mouth shut)

[Sinizter]

Parents should be allowed to smack their child. A light slap, or a smack on the rear end is perfectly fine - and is probably essential for proper parenting.

[Lucio]

One thing you have to remember about smacking though, is that it makes children afraid. Now, if done properly and for the right reasons, it makes them afraid of doing wrong. If done incorrectly though, all it can achieve is making the child afraid of their parents.


This can easily be used as an arguement both for and against banning smacking. After all, it relies on the judgement of the parent and by introducing a law you are automatically calling all parents judgement into question. By not introducing a law you are saying that every single parent is capable of making that judgement correctly.

In short, as with just about every issue in life, you can't win.


Personally, on the subject of children's behaviour, all I think is nessercary is to bring back the concept of being ashamed by your actions. Instead of applauding people who misbehave in the public eye, we should be turning our noses up at them. Instead of telling our children that it's acceptable for them to do anything they want and to ignore other people who put them down we should be telling them that if other people are looking down upon their behaviour then the chances are it ISN'T the right thing to do.

[Horatio]

It has already been said, and far more articulately : parents, try something radical: talk to your child, always and forever. And deprive them of 'things' when necessary. Shouting, screaming, smacking, or worse, merely desensitises. The 'chavs' are probably more a result of this than of an absence of corporal punishment. The people claiming that ' it never did them any harm' would probably have turned out alright anyway. Other people's children are always going to be a problem when they 'act out' in public and Lucio has got it right. Policing anti smacking laws would be a nightmare. Get rid of 'Big Brother' etc, and police U-tube instead.

[trusz]

Ban smacking, ban conkers, ban pogs, shield them from swearing, sex and violence, lie to them about drugs, shield them from animal slaughter, vaccinate them against every possible disease, keep every kid locked in a padded box and feed them sterilized food through an airlock because that's the only way to secure the future of mankind and make sure that no one gets hurt. This ensures children are protected from everything that happens in the real world and ultimately prepares them for adult life!

It's one issue in an awfully growing trend that is leading to the softening of society and possibly the inability to cope as well with broader life experiences upon reaching adulthood in my opinion.

Seriously, how far is Britain going to go with this?

More importantly who's going to make sure I can have steak for dinner when I'm 40 without me having to slaughter my own cow??

[charleski]

I voted No.

I was smacked once in primary school (in South Africa in the 70's) and it infuriated me (largely because I'd been set-up by one of my class-mates). It didn't cause me any permanent harm though (apart from turning me into an embittered serial-killer, but hey). I did notice, however, that many of my friends in high-school who were in the boarding section (this was also in pre-1994 South Africa) were caned for some really trivial offences, so much so that they took to noting the number of times they'd been caned with little marks on their tie. Being caned was a cause for boasting, which is perhaps not the desired effect.

Children really do have a good sense of justice, and that's the real problem that needs to be addressed. If they've done something wrong, then they know it, and suitable punishment will have the desired effect. If they're getting punished for something that they didn't do, or which was not their fault, then you're just teaching them that the concepts of justice and due process mean nothing.

The problem isn't smacking vs not smacking, it's adults who are just too busy with other stuff to take the time to work out what really happened and apply punishment accordingly. No amount of PC governmental directives is going to change that.

The problem with punishing kids is that they are all individuals (even more so than adults), yet they expect to be treated in a common manner. A stiff talking-to might suit one kid whereas another would just laugh it off. But you need to give them a sense that they're all being judged on the same scale or you've already lost. The only thing I can think of that works is an escalating scale, but even then you need to provide a means for them to redeem themselves so the problem kids don't just end up thinking, "I'm F'd whatever I do."

[Merlin4458]

do it from an early age. Smack em if they are naughty, they will learn at that young age not to do it again, and grow up with discipline. I was smacked, and actually glad i was, so were both my bros. Worked like a charm

[Blitzen]

The VAST majority of young people are respectful and well behaved.

Maybe where you live they are mate but the rest of Britain is suffering from ignorant little ****es that need a bloody good hiding.
When i was younger i would not have dreamt of being cheeky or swearing at someone senior in years to me....now its the norm.

If the 'RIGHT ON' squad try to ban it then what message does that tell youngsters? I'll tell you what it says.......' Do what you like as there is NO consequence'.

What you must realise is that a smack is the only language some people understand...whether they are adults or children.

I must say though that i think the smack should be restricted to the bum, thigh or hand (unless its a paid for service ).

Before you ask, im not a child or an OAP....im 34.

I'm all for bringing it back in total honesty.

What happens at schools for example is you have 1 child that is a right pain in the arse to put it bluntly. Now once this child acts the goat, goes round being a pain and nothing is done this inscribes the message to the rest of the children that it's okay to do what he is doing as you do not get punished for it.

Why do you think society is in such of a mess at the moment with kids all under 18 going round stabbing each other, happy slapping and killing people left right and centre?

I know I had a few clips round the lughole when I was a kid and this taught me not to push the boundries like they try to do today.

I disagree there.
I dont know if you are a father or not but i am.
I can guarantee you that if a teacher raised a hand or cane to one of my children they would need to be fed through a drip for a few years afterwards. I will discipline my children...no one else! (Never had to as they are actually very good luckily).
A teacher is there to gain respect......not command it. If a teacher is good at their job and has a working knowledge to handle children, then even the most unruly nipper will respond to that.

[cavemandave]

chids shouldnt be in constant fear but should be taught respect by mum and dad so no it shouldnt be banned n personaly i think that teacher should be allowed to use the cane again that would be more useful that the labour "respect" policy,

[Merlin4458]

chids shouldnt be in constant fear but should be taught respect by mum and dad so no it shouldnt be banned n personaly i think that teacher should be allowed to use the cane again that would be more useful that the labour "respect" policy,

they will only be in constant fear if t hey mis behave, hence they will think " dont mis behave" the cane would be great but only if it was never banned. These days, a teacher using a cane will no doubt get a knife in the side on his/her way home that evening