Corporal Punishment

Punishment is an issue I feel very strongly about. While I do agree with the general reward-punishment reinforcement theory of human behaviour governing motivation and expectation, I believe something is lost when the issue is one of punishment of children.

Here's the background: corporal punishment is generally understood to be that use of physical force, typically violent, for the purpose of chastisement. This includes beating, smacking, slapping, spanking, etc. Now in the west, using this on children is generally a no-no and is often taken for child abuse. It's rarely used by parents or teachers on grown adults, they would never get away with it.

This I have no argument with, it is child abuse, fair and square. And is wrong. But what those driving out physical punishment are neglectful of is the mental side of chastisement.

I know tough teenagers who have been reduced to tears by verbal abuse from adults they respected and trusted. I also know of parents who would never use physical punishment who are happy to exploit emotional blackmail as a means of getting their kids to learn or realise whatever. And often the punishment is for something stupid, unfair and wrong.

Now I'm no parent, but to me these seem worse and grosser forms of abuse than a flick of a belt or switch or even the use of the heated metal serving-spoon to inflict a light burn.

Think about it, tough kids can exhibit sullen defiance in the form of a high-minded and superior silence in the face of unthinking physical violence provided it doesn't go too far. They lose this defence if it's their emotions and mental state being played with in the name of correction.