Spanking: Right or Wrong?
Kylie, Shaylie, Kerri, Melanie, and Katie
Facts Discussed
Opener:
-"The /use of physical force with the intention of causing a child pain, but not injury, for the purposes of correction or control of the child's behavior"
Our Belief:
We’re totally split on this decision- half of us were spanked, half weren’t. Those who weren’t spanked see spanking as more of a negative.
Background:
-“We know that spanking very young children (less than age two) is more common and frequent in African-American and Hispanic families than it is in non-Hispanic white families, a classification that in the U.S. refers largely to children from European-American family backgrounds” (Slade).
-“Spanking rates remain highest among black Americans” (Gershoff, 24).
For Spanking:
National longitudinal surveys collecting data on families who use corporal punishment have holes in their studies, because there are parents who don’t spank their children on a regular basis, because a regular basis = once a week
According to these surveys, “regular basis”= once a week.
“Parents who have spanked their children in the past month or year, but not in the past week, are considered non-spankers” (Grogan-Kaylor & Otis, 83)
According to “Spanking Children: A Conversation Long Overdue”, it is important for parents to spank their children in a “clear-minded” state, rather than out of aggression (Carlsbad).
(LAST POINT) “The issue with spanking is, we are talking about factors that raise risk of poor outcomes for children; there’s not an absolute guarantee that poor outcomes will happen” (Mitchell).
Against Spanking
In most countries in the study, 65% of students under 10 reported being spanked. In the United States, 75% of students under 10 reported being spanked (Proulx, 1).
“In the U.S., the only humans it is still legal to hit are children” (Knox & Lentini, 25).
“A pattern of physical abuse generally starts as corporal punishment, then gets out of control” (Paintal, 3).
“Those adolescents who reported feeling threatened by their parents use of corporal punishment in childhood have poor mental health” (Mulvaney &Mebrt, 410)
A 2012 article by TIME Magazine reported that “Harsh punishments can wind up backfiring because they can foster lying in children who are desperate to avoid being spanked.”” (Carlsbad).
“Negative consequences of corporal punishment including increased risk for behavioral problems, delinquent behaviors, low self-esteem, depression, substance abuse, and physical abuse of their own children among those exposed to corporal punishment” (Chung, 24-25).
Works Cited
Carlsbad. "Spanking Children: A Conversation Long Overdue." The Daily Cougar [Houston, Texas] 02 Oct. 2014: n. pag. ProQuest. Web. 11 Nov. 2014.
Chung, Esther K., MD. "Infant Spanking: Attitudes and Past Experiences." Pediatrics for Parents Mar.-Apr. 2010: 24-25. ProQuest. Web. 11 Nov. 2014.
Gershoff, Elizabeth T., PhD. "Spanking - Is It Harmful for All Children." Pediatrics for Parents 1 Mar. 2012: 24-25. ProQuest. Web. 11 Dec. 2014.
Grogan-Kaylor, Andrew, and Melanie D. Otis. "The Predictors of Parental Use of Corporal Punishment." Family Relations. 56.1 (2007): 80-91. Print.
Knox, Michele, PhD, and Jennifer Lentini, MD. "On Spanking." Pediatrics for Parents Dec. 2007: 25-26. ProQuest. Web. 11 Nov. 2014.
Mitchell, Patrick. "Child Discipline Is Spanking Worth the Risk." Children's Voice July-Aug. 2010: 19. ProQuest. Web. 11 Nov. 2014.
Mulvaney, Matthew K, and Carolyn J. Mebert. "Stress Appraisal and Attitudes Towards Corporal Punishment As Intervening Processes between Corporal Punishment and Subsequent Mental Health." Journal of Family Violence. 25.4 (2010): 401-412. Print.
Paintal, Sureshrani. "Banning Corporal Punishment of Children." Childhood Education 83.6 (2007): 410-13. ProQuest. Web. 11 Nov. 2014.
Proulx, Melissa. "Spanking May Lead to Law Breaking, Study Shows." University Wire [Durham, New Hampshire] 06 Dec. 2013: n. pag. ProQuest. Web. 11 Dec. 2014.
Slade, Eric. "Spanking in Early Childhood and Later Behavior Problems." Pediatrics for Parents Oct.-Nov. 2006: 2. ProQuest. Web. 11 Nov. 2014.
Slade, Eric. "Spanking in Early Childhood and Later Behavior Problems." Pediatrics for Parents Oct.-Nov. 2006: 2. ProQuest. Web. 11 Nov. 2014.