Free Essays on Corporal Punishment

In 1978, Astrid Lindgren, author of Pippi Longstocking, was awarded the German Book Trade Peace Prize for her excellent contributions to children’s literature. In her acceptance speech, she told an interesting story about a child. This brief narrative began when she was about twenty. She had just met a pastor’s wife who told her that when she was young and had her first child, she was completely opposed to spanking children. However, the practice was widely accepted at the time. When her son had turned five, he had misbehaved and the woman decided to give the child its first spanking. She told him to leave the house to search for a switch. The child did not return for quite a while. When he finally returned, he said to his mother, â€Å"Mama, I couldn’t find a switch, but here’s a rock that you can throw at me.† (No Spanking Page) The Perception of a spanking visually and tactilely must be confusing and disturbing for children. They can never be sure what meaning their parents are expressing when this violent type of punishment takes place. Parents give children primary exposure to concepts of right and positive. In addition, Parents’ behavior influences children’s perceptions about what love looks and feels like. Spanking sends children a message that ethical and right equate with physical violence that it is all right to hit people... even those you love. Violence is okay when it is used to control someone else into submission. For example, a child has a temper tantrum in a department store, and his mother takes him home and spanks him forcing him into submission to her ideals of public behavior. Also, this practice can create a paradoxical logic system for a young child who is currently in the process of imperative cognitive and moral development. For children whose parents tell them that hitting is wrong, hitting might also convey the message that it is all right to do something that is wrong. It crea tes an overal... Free Essays on Corporal Punishment Free Essays on Corporal Punishment Teachers that use corporal punishment, children that don’t know what country they live in, and a school board that does not care about learning; this does not sound like a quality education. These examples go against what Pat Conroy believes to be a productive learning experience. Conroy’s book â€Å"The Water is Wide† reveals his ideas about education through his unique teaching methods and style. In the fist few chapters of the book Conroy begins to develop unique styles for teaching the children of Yamacraw. Conroy realizes from his past experience as an educator that the best way to begin a school year is to put the students at complete ease. His method to loosen the students up is to joke with them. However, the students do not respond well to this unfamiliar method. Conroy decides to take a more teacherable approach. After asking the students several questions he begins to realize the extent of the problems that plague the children of Yamacraw Island. Conroy develops a method of teaching to cure the children of their lack of knowledge. The method he chooses is similar to a pep rally. During these pep rallies Conroy asks the students a series of questions which the students either respond quickly to or wait for hints on. These pep rallies allow Conroy to discover what the students know as well as what they want to know. The use of the pep rallies allows Conroy to realize that the students don’t want to look or be stupid. He begins to realize that if he approaches them the correct way and with information that interests them they will learn. By using this method Conroy discovers the student’s interest in music. The children love James Brown’s music so he allows them to discuss their interests. By finding a common interest among the group Conroy is able to begin a discussion on Brown’s music, as well as, lead the students into an interest of a new type of music. This approach is new to the studen... Free Essays on Corporal Punishment Corporal punishment is defined as â€Å"the use of physical force with the intention of causing a child to experience pain, but not injury, for purposes of correction or control of the child’s behavior† (Walsh, 2002). Society views physical punishment in different ways. Some see it as a necessity to reinforce a child’s behavior. Others see this type of punishment as an ineffective and violent way to discipline the child. Spanking is a type of corporal punishment, and it is also what I centered my research on. It refers to striking a child with an open hand on the buttocks or extremities with the intention of modifying behavior without causing physical injury (Saadeh, 2002). This has caused controversy in today’s society because many people believe it is wrong while others see it as a means to discipline their child. Some people have gone to the extreme and have tried to get spanking banned in the United States. Between 70% and 90% of parents spank their children at least occasionally (Saadeh, 2002). This percentage shows that most parents must think they are doing something positive for the child. Most arguments for and against corporal punishment are commonly cited as if they were based on scientific evidence, but the fact is that they most often come from cultural, religious, and personal views(Roberts, 2002). This makes it difficult to decide what type of discipline works best for the child. The facts need to be based on scientific studies to ensure children will develop in a positive and loving environment. Spankers Although society, as a whole, agrees that physically injuring a child is never appropriate, some do believe that physically disciplining their child is a mandatory form of punishment. According to Saadeh, people who think spanking is an appropriate form of discipline support their position with well thought out and tested arguments (2002). The findings show that spanking is not associated wi... Free Essays on Corporal Punishment In 1978, Astrid Lindgren, author of Pippi Longstocking, was awarded the German Book Trade Peace Prize for her excellent contributions to children’s literature. In her acceptance speech, she told an interesting story about a child. This brief narrative began when she was about twenty. She had just met a pastor’s wife who told her that when she was young and had her first child, she was completely opposed to spanking children. However, the practice was widely accepted at the time. When her son had turned five, he had misbehaved and the woman decided to give the child its first spanking. She told him to leave the house to search for a switch. The child did not return for quite a while. When he finally returned, he said to his mother, â€Å"Mama, I couldn’t find a switch, but here’s a rock that you can throw at me.† (No Spanking Page) The Perception of a spanking visually and tactilely must be confusing and disturbing for children. They can never be sure what meaning their parents are expressing when this violent type of punishment takes place. Parents give children primary exposure to concepts of right and positive. In addition, Parents’ behavior influences children’s perceptions about what love looks and feels like. Spanking sends children a message that ethical and right equate with physical violence that it is all right to hit people... even those you love. Violence is okay when it is used to control someone else into submission. For example, a child has a temper tantrum in a department store, and his mother takes him home and spanks him forcing him into submission to her ideals of public behavior. Also, this practice can create a paradoxical logic system for a young child who is currently in the process of imperative cognitive and moral development. For children whose parents tell them that hitting is wrong, hitting might also convey the message that it is all right to do something that is wrong. It crea tes an overal... Free Essays on Corporal Punishment Corporal Punishment, in criminology, some manner of physical punishment inflicted by judicial order on the body of an offender. The term generally refers to flogging, branding, or mutilation as punishment for a crime. Historically, corporal punishment has been practiced since ancient times. It was assumed that the injured criminal would be less likely to commit other crimes, but this assumption was never proved, and in fact, one theory holds that severe corporal punishment increases the likelihood of further criminal acts. In the 20th century, corporal punishment fell into disfavor in many countries, including the United States. It was replaced with penal methods that provide correctional goals, such as psychological guidance and vocational training programs in prisons. Corporal punishment is still part of the penal systems of some nations in Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. It is also favored by people who believe it can be used as a deterrent to the growing crime rate.... Free Essays on Corporal Punishment Corporal Punishment Corporal Punishment refers to the deliberate infliction of pain on anything or someone as correction.  · Used in schools, homes, and as punishment for criminals.  · Milder forms used in homes by parents referred to as â€Å"spanking.†  · In schools, corporal punishment is legal in 23 states (Corpun.com)  · Corporal and capital punishment were long the main forms of punishment used by society. Since the 18th century corporal punishment has tended to be gradually replaced by fines and incarceration. However, several societies retain widespread use of corporal punishment; this includes nations such as Singapore and Malaysia. (wikipedia.org/wiki/Capital_punishment)  · The Singaporean practice of caning became much discussed in the U.S. in 1994, when American teenager Michael Fay was sentenced to such punishment for an offence of car vandalisation. In Singapore, male violent offenders and rapists are typically sentenced to caning in addition to a prison term. (wikipedia.org/wiki/Capital_punishment)  · The debate over corporal punishment in school is very heated as many people feel that teachers do not have the same rights as parents to discipline children.  · When the issue turns to the home it becomes very complex, as it is hard to decide what the parent’s rights are and when discipline crosses the line into abuse. Arguments in favor of corporal punishment:  · Parents should have the right to discipline their children as they see fit.  · California law states â€Å"a parent has the right to reasonably discipline a child by physical punishment and may administer reasonable punishment without being liable for battery. In order to be considered disciplinary the punishment must a) be necessary and b) be reasonable, not excessive in the judgment of a third party (a social worker for example) – ReligiousTolerance.org  · In a study done by the Atlanta Journal it was found ...