In recent weeks, The National Football League has stimulated many conversations around the county, none of them involving football.
First, there was the case of Baltimore Ravens’ running back Ray Rice, whose initial two-game suspension for knocking his then-girlfriend unconscious in an Atlantic City casino elevator, created a furor of protests that the punishment was too light. Ultimately, the NFL suspended Rice indefinitely and the Ravens terminated his contract.
Then, on Sept. 12, Minnesota Vikings’ running back Adrian Peterson was indicted by a Texas grand jury for felony child abuse after an incident in which he spanked his 4-year-old with a switch or branch. Peterson later admitted he “went too far,” in disciplining his child and photos of the whelps and broken skin on the child’s body certainly confirm that in the eyes of most people.
The Peterson case, in particular, has been a hot topic among parents. Some argue that it is not only a parent’s right to spank his or her child; it is an obligation. Others say corporal punishment is an outdated, harmful practice.
Interestingly, the only case where hitting another person outside of self-defense is not considered a criminal offense is the practice of spanking.
That incongruity has led to laws that prohibit the use of corporate punishment of children. While only one state, Delaware, prohibits spankings, there are 37 countries that consider spanking an illegal act.
Those parents, who point out to the Old Testament teaching “Spare the rod, spoil the child,” a commonly-known paraphrase of Proverbs 13:24, should note that Israel is among those countries that prohibit spankings.
Over the years, spankings have fallen into disfavor in some circles in the U.S. Alternate forms of discipline — “time outs,” loss of privileges, etc. — are becoming more common practices. Schools, too, are using far less corporal punishment. It is rarely a matter of “reading, writing and ‘rithmatic, taught to the tune of a hickory stick.”
There are many who make a connection between the decrease in spankings and a perceived increase in bad behavior, criminal conduct and general disrespect among our younger generation. Meanwhile, our prisons are full of people who were spanked as a child. There simply is no reliable evidence to support or condemn the practice.
Even so, it is the parent’s responsibility for instilling in their children proper conduct, character and manners. It probably goes too far to prohibit a parent from reasonable use of spankings, provided those spankings do not cross the line into physical harm, as appears to be the case in the Peterson case.
But it does seems wise to suggest parents be judicious in the use of spankings and recognize that there are often better means of discipline available in many cases. Good parents spank their children. Bad parents do, too. Conversely, parents good and bad may spare the rod. It is a matter that should be left to conscience and a practice that should be carefully considered and appropriately administered, if used at all.
Spankings should not be a routine part of any child’s life.
That is something we all should be able to agree on.
The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.
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