It’s Time to Put an End to Corporal Punishment in Schools Essay

It’s Time to Put an End to Corporal Punishment in Schools Seven countries-Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Norway, Austria, Italy and Cyprus- have laws making it illegal for parents to use physical punishment on their children. Corporal punishment in schools has been banned in all the countries in Europe, South and Central America, China and Japan. The United States has outlawed corporal punishment from our prisons as cruel and inhumane treatment, as well as wife-beating, once thought to be the right of a husband. Why don’t we afford the same protection to our children? Our culture sanctions the use of corporal or physical punishment as a way for parents to discipline their children. Just a few weeks ago Marvin Munyon, president of the Family Resource Forum based in Madison, Wisconsin, was at the Eau Claire Gospel Center to talk about and demonstrate the proper way to spank children. Mr. Munyon would have us believe that discipline other than spanking is ineffective (Emerson 1B, 3B). From my experience as a child and a parent I have found the opposite to be true. If we take a look at what discipline is and the reasons parents use physical punishment, we can then start to understand that there are more effective ways to discipline children. Webster’s New World Dictionary defines corporal punishment, as â€Å"bodily punishment.† The word punish is defined by the same source as â€Å"to cause to undergo pain, loss, etc., as for a crime.† There is no mention anywhere in this definition about teaching or training which is one of the definitions of discipline: â€Å"training that develops self-control, efficiency, etc.† What does physical punishment teach children? For one thing it teaches them that it’s ok... ...Associated Press. â€Å"To Spank or not to Spank? Debate continues after Georgia incident. A Matter of Discipline.† Baltimore Sun, The (Baltimore, MD), July 10, 1994: 1J. Available: NewsBank NewsFile Collection (1991-current) (Online). Emerson, Julian. â€Å"Spanking As Discipline Promoted.† Eau Claire Leader-Telegram, September 23, 2000: 1B, 3B. EPOCH-USA. â€Å"Spanking: Facts & Fiction.† Homepage. 15 Oct. 2000 http:/www.stophitting.com/EPOCH/epoch_spanking.htm NCACPS: â€Å"Facts About Corporal Punishment.† Homepage: 15 Oct. 2000 http:/www.stophitting.com/NCACPS/NCACPS_facts_about_corporal_punishment.htm Schulte, Brigid. â€Å"AMA research suggests spanking kids hinders discipline more than it helps.† Knight-Ridder/Tribune News Service, August 14, 1997. Available: NewsBank NewsFile Collection (1991-current) (Online).