dis 3 replys

Corporal Punishment

Jackie Enfield

DBMF 605-B01

Dr. P. John Brunstetter

February 10, 2020

DISCUSSION BOARD THREAD NUMBER 3 2

The argument for corporal punishment

I believe corporal punishment can be used effectively in disciplining some children but there must be guidelines and not every child will benefit from such actions. Children are different and children raised in the same home may respond differently to corporal punishment. Spanking can be especially effective in dangerous situations such as a child running into the street. The shock factor of being spanked will stay with that child for a long time and lessen the chance he or she will repeat the behavior. Corporal punishment should be used in combination with other disciplinary actions. Time out and removal of privileges can also be effective techniques and spanking should be used infrequently (Dobson, 2014). Children younger than 18 months should not be spanked and depending on the child, end around age 12 (Dobson, 2014). Some children will respond to corporal punishment while others may seem to enjoy it. In my career, I have seen some children diagnosed with sensory processing disorder who receive positive feedback from spanking because it stimulates their senses or they cannot feel it at all. My son fell on the other end of the spectrum. I spanked him maybe two or three times in his childhood. He responded to my looks and tone of voice more than anything and was a very compliant child overall.

Administering corporal punishment

I do want to state that I believe only the parent or guardian should be the one to administer corporal punishment. I do not support corporal punishment in schools or other settings. There is a risk of injury to the child due to inappropriate implementation of the punishment and has been linked to lower GPAs at graduation, poor social skills at school, and higher rates of depression (Gershoff, Sattler, & Holden, 2019). The schools do not follow up to the punishment with a Christian perspective and do not administer the spanking out of love.

Biblical perspective

“Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4). I like this Bible reference over Proverbs 3:24 because I have seen parents use that Scripture to defend inappropriate discipline techniques. Parents should not use discipline to administer cruel punishment, instead use it in rearing children to engage in self-control and restraint as they develop a relationship with our Lord. Children who are respectful and obedient will have more success in life. Parents should discipline from a place of love and not anger.

Reference

Dobson, J. (2014). The new dare to discipline. Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House. ISBN:

9781414391359.

Gershoff, E., Sattler, M.P., & Holden, G.W. (2019). School corporal punishment and its

associations with achievement and adjustment. Journal of Applied Developmental

Psychology, 63, 1-8. doi: 10.1016/j.appdev.2019.05.004