The Children's Amendment Bill, which will make it illegal for parents to spank their children, has been badly thought out.
The Children's Amendment Bill, which will make it illegal for parents to spank their children, has been badly thought out.
Propagandists have created the impression that spanking is some medieval practice which an enlightened society should abolish.
Many judge others by their own experience. They have possibly "hit" their children when they were frustrated or angry. They assume that all spanking is given with the same hostility they have felt. If they have never experienced loving discipline applied for the child's own good, then how could they understand it?
In common law it is illegal to beat your child to inflict physical injury. Spanking a child to train them how to act and live, should never be equated with violence. If violence is inflicted upon a child offenders should be punished.
Spanking should not be punishment. It is rather chastisement. It should not be applied in anger.
Opponents of spanking point to its occasional misuse. All authority is misused from time to time. When the courts are unjust, we do not abolish the office of the judge or the law.
Teachers no longer teach, but have resorted to crowd control and lecturing. Spanking is outlawed in schools - let's not now make our homes as chaotic as our schools.
Charl van Wyk, Cape Town
Spanking not same as abuse
The Children's Amendment Bill, which will make it illegal for parents to spank their children, has been badly thought out.
The Children's Amendment Bill, which will make it illegal for parents to spank their children, has been badly thought out.
Propagandists have created the impression that spanking is some medieval practice which an enlightened society should abolish.
Many judge others by their own experience. They have possibly "hit" their children when they were frustrated or angry. They assume that all spanking is given with the same hostility they have felt. If they have never experienced loving discipline applied for the child's own good, then how could they understand it?
In common law it is illegal to beat your child to inflict physical injury. Spanking a child to train them how to act and live, should never be equated with violence. If violence is inflicted upon a child offenders should be punished.
Spanking should not be punishment. It is rather chastisement. It should not be applied in anger.
Opponents of spanking point to its occasional misuse. All authority is misused from time to time. When the courts are unjust, we do not abolish the office of the judge or the law.
Teachers no longer teach, but have resorted to crowd control and lecturing. Spanking is outlawed in schools - let's not now make our homes as chaotic as our schools.
Charl van Wyk, Cape Town