The Spanking Issue: the Ethical Dilemma of Corporal Punishment
The Spanking Issue:
The Ethical Dilemma of Corporal Punishment
This issue of corporal punishment is a current issue that many people have on their minds. The issue strikes an emotional chord for many whom were or were not punished by spanking during their own childhoods. The issue generally focuses on the effect that spanking or other discipline methods will have on children. I will specifically be exploring the question: is it ever appropriate to spank a child? The cases for and against the spanking of young children are many and varied. But the main issue is the level of appropriateness that the act can reach.
The well being of the children of today is of the utmost importance to our society. The authority will be passed from the older generation to the younger generation unendingly. This transfer is a significant event in which the power of democracy is also transferred with the authority. Children's psychosocial development is influenced directly by the absence or inclusion of corporal punishment in the discipline measures exacted on a child. The issue is also important emotionally for many families. People want to raise children that will benefit other people and society. The issue of spanking divides people because it is such a widespread personal issue. Studies from the Center for Effective Discipline show that more than 300,000 children punished physically in a school setting during the 2002-2003 academic year. Furthermore, what serves to make the issue of the utmost importance is the possible psychological effects that the physical punishment may bring about in children and the abuses that could take place.
Most proponents of spanking have very clearly defined goals. Mr. Trumbull stated in an article for the support of spanking, " while loving and effective discipline is quite definitely not harsh and abusive, neither is it weak and ineffectual. Indeed, disciplinary spanking can fall well within the boundaries of loving discipline and need not be
The Ethical Dilemma of Corporal Punishment
This issue of corporal punishment is a current issue that many people have on their minds. The issue strikes an emotional chord for many whom were or were not punished by spanking during their own childhoods. The issue generally focuses on the effect that spanking or other discipline methods will have on children. I will specifically be exploring the question: is it ever appropriate to spank a child? The cases for and against the spanking of young children are many and varied. But the main issue is the level of appropriateness that the act can reach.
The well being of the children of today is of the utmost importance to our society. The authority will be passed from the older generation to the younger generation unendingly. This transfer is a significant event in which the power of democracy is also transferred with the authority. Children's psychosocial development is influenced directly by the absence or inclusion of corporal punishment in the discipline measures exacted on a child. The issue is also important emotionally for many families. People want to raise children that will benefit other people and society. The issue of spanking divides people because it is such a widespread personal issue. Studies from the Center for Effective Discipline show that more than 300,000 children punished physically in a school setting during the 2002-2003 academic year. Furthermore, what serves to make the issue of the utmost importance is the possible psychological effects that the physical punishment may bring about in children and the abuses that could take place.
Most proponents of spanking have very clearly defined goals. Mr. Trumbull stated in an article for the support of spanking, " while loving and effective discipline is quite definitely not harsh and abusive, neither is it weak and ineffectual. Indeed, disciplinary spanking can fall well within the boundaries of loving discipline and need not be
Bibliography: Scelfo, J. (2007) Spanking Smackdown. Newsweek, Vol 149 Issue 6, 16, Retrieved February 21, 2007 from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=aph&AN=23829219&site=ehost-live Education Journal (2004). Spanking [Electronic version]. Education Journal, 80, 27, Retrieved February 21, 2007 from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=aph&AN=15109106&site=ehost-live Duncan, S., (1997). To Spank or Not to Spank , Retrieved February 21, 2007 from http://www.montana.edu/wwwpb/home/spanking.html Clayton, V., (2007) Discipline debate: Spanking gets a timeout, 1-2, Retrieved February 21, 2007 from http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16929303/