A woman has avoided going to jail, but will serve five years probation. She will also have to attend parenting classes, follow CPS guidelines to a T, and make a small donation to the Children's Advocacy Center.
What did this woman do? She disciplined her child. The woman from Corpus Christi, Texas was found guilty of Injury to A Child. The woman spanked her then 2 yr. old child for misbehaving. The spanking was contained to the child's buttocks and done with a open hand.
The young child's grandmother saw the red mark that was produced on the child's rear end and took the child to a local children's hospital to be evaluated.
The district court judge that over saw the states case against this young woman, put it into plain english so everyone that could hear would understand. "You don't spank children today" said the district judge. "In the old days maybe we spanked, but that was a different quarrel. You don't spank children" continued the judge.
The young lady has lost custody of her children, the one she spanked and two others. She is working with CPS to regain her custody of them.
Did that really just happen? Did the court of law just tell this young woman and everyone else, how we are to discipline our children?
That is ridiculous. Now before we go any further, I want to make this clear. There is a difference between corporal punishment, such as spanking, and physical abuse. We can not compare the spanking of one's buttocks, to the cigarette burning, feet dripping into boiling water type of physical abuse. Physical abuse must never be allowed.
Spanking is a form of discipline. We all need discipline, for without this the world would be extremely chaotic. The spanking is used as a deterrent, from doing things or saying things the child is not suppose to do. The use of spanking as a disciplinary tool is not to leave the child with long term damage or injuries. But it does leave that lasting impression that makes a child think twice before doing something they are not suppose to.
Times have changed though. The days of fearing your dad's leather belt or your mother's bare hand are gone. Kids today have no fear of actually punishment. So they get sent to their room, great their xbox360 or playstation3 are in there. They just put on their IPOD and tune out their parents. So a child gets grounded and must stay home, cool they just have their friends come over to them. Some experts say to sit the child down and speak with them, letting them know what they did wrong. Well of course that is a great idea, but trying to be rationale with a young child that cannot comprehend that way is impossible. And with most households having both parents working, actually enforcing any of these forms of discipline are almost impossible.
But the crack of that belt or the smack of that hand is easily enforced. Most parents that do use spanking as a disciplinary correction tool, don't have to actually spank just threaten to. Once a child has been spanked one good time, they will never forget and never want that feeling again. So being threatened with pop's belt is in most times enough to correct whatever misbehaviour is going on. I know it was for me.
Actually we need more of that kind of discipline of our youth today. Most of them have the attitude that they can get away with just about anything because of cases like these.
We searched the Texas Attorny General's website and were able to find this in regards to the law and spanking.
"Texas law allows the use of force, but not deadly force, against a child by the child's parent, guardian or other person who is acting in loco parentis." Experts agree and disagree about whether a child should be spanked and that debate will go on forever. But the best expert to know whether a child's behaviour warrants a spanking or not is not a judge or some scientist, it is the child's parent.
The next quote is also from the Texas Attorney General's website. "The law does not attempt to arbitrate between the different views on the best method of disciplining a child." What we do know is that severe corporal punishment is damaging, dangerous, and deadly and this is what the law prohibits.
So simple terms that says the court does not or can not tell you the best or worst way to discipline your child. The law is there to protect children from damaging, dangerous and deadly abuse.
So why did this judge hand out this verdict? Well I believe he let his personal views come in the way of his interpretation of the law. I have a feeling that this verdict may be overturned.
How do you feel about corporal punishment? How do you feel about spanking of children?
2 comments:
My parents were spankers whether it was a belt or open hand. But you know what, whatever it was that I did wrong, I never did it again. This is what is wrong with today's youth. They are not scared of anything or anyone. We need corporal punishment at home as well as in schools. I myself am reluctant to spank my daughter not because I don't want to, but because I fear I could end up like the person in this article. This situation was blown way out of porportion and should have never gone this far. The red mark that was left on the child was probably gone by the time the mother was arrested. The lack of corporal punishment in todays society will be its downfall. But that's my opinion...
@Deanna thank you for your comment. My parents spanked me and my brothers when need be. They didnt have to do it often because once was usually enough. I agree with you that are youth are not afraid of anything these days. They no longer fear their parents, they no longer fear the law. Just an example here, when a juvenile is taken to court for being caught doing grafiti what happens? They are giving a talking to and maybe probation. Then not a month later they are right back out there doing the same things that got them in trouble the first time, why? Because they dont have any fear. I too have a young child and yes i have spanked him before. But you know what i dont have to anyomore, I just have to threaten to spank and that changes everything. Now dont get me wrong the will be a day when I will have to do it again, just so he will know that it isnt a hollow threat. Corporal punishment is why kids 20 30 years ago grew up with respect and manners. With have lost that corporal punishment and so the kids now days have lost that respect and manners. Like I stated in the article there is a difference in discipline and abuse. Abuse ususally comes with the intent to harm, discipline is used to teach. It is not against the law to spank so this case is really interesting we will have to see what the end result is.
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