D is for Discipline

Surveys show that we Spankos are far more opposed to the corporal punishment of children than the population at large.   77% are against the practice as opposed to 35% of adults in general.

We take our stance from the personal knowledge that non-consensual spankings are very unpleasant indeed, and will not condone any form of child abuse.

I think we might have taken the propaganda from the "no-Spanking" brigade hook, line and sinker without bothering to examine the rhetoric that they have brought into play.   We are all opposed to abuse, and they shout from the house tops that all spankings are abusive and hitting children is invariably wrong.

There are a number of "single issue" campaigns out there from "No Vaccinations!"  through to "Ban Tobacco!" - and they all use pretty much the same tactics:   The state personal unsupported opinions as if they were facts, they use bad science to bolster their claims, and they use shame tactics to try to silence any opposition.

As I discussed in the piece "O Canada", independent researchers find that when "conditional spankings" are examined in isolation from other types of corporal punishment, they turn out to be the very best parental method known for removing bad behavior traits from kids.   A conditional spanking is one that is administered under control, after due warnings, to the clothed bottom, with the bare hand, for a short duration, for a lapse in some behavioral conduct.   That is, one should not spank a child for being bad at some academic topic - but if that child continues to play with matches in reckless manner, then a couple of slaps to the rump might start a change in behavior:   one that perhaps saves your house from getting burned down.

In general, conditional spankings tend to be beneficial in their effectiveness - and all others are abusive.    I think it behooves us to distinguish between the two, and to accept that conditional spankings can have a positive effect when it comes to discipline.  And continue to make it very plain that no child should ever suffer and abusive beating.    Regardless of circumstances - never.