Many believe in and practice what the Bible says about physically disciplining a child, "Withhold not correction from the child: for if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die" Proverbs 23:13. Some would read this and interpret the worst, as in beating a child with a blunt object unmercifully, and they would resist such a command, however, it would be a grave misinterpretation.

The meaning of the scripture should not be taken at surface level, but understood in a most logical sense, as in, do not withhold correction, spank your child as necessary, they will live. Today's society discourages spanking based on a feministic view of a new world, one of victimization.

A parent in tune with their children, as in having a closeness with them as a parent should, would know when to punish their child by spanking or whippings and when to punish them with words and withholding material pleasures from them. But not many parents today have that closeness with their child so they do not see or know when to inflict a spanking on their child.

A child needs to be hit when they have seriously and blatantly disrespected an adult, or another child or a sibling. In any situation of such behavior - disrespect of others - that child should learn a hard lesson. Most "aware" parents have a built-in sensor that triggers when their child should receive a swift hit.

However, there is another side. Children should not be constantly hit by anyone, especially a parent. Many times parents or caregivers are stressed to an extent where they swing and hit a child too hard or too many times and in the wrong place.

A child is fragile in both body and soul and scars will be left upon that child if inflicted too harshly. A child knows no other and loves no other but the primary care giver and or parent, and that child should never experience any forms of abuse from them.

Abusing a child in any manner is a horrible crime and should be viewed this way by society because it births into society an angry person, one abused and hurt by a loved one, which often results in disrespect of others.

Because children are very impressionable, they must have the best and most compassionate upbringing; not one laced with violence and hatred in the form of words. Any parent that verbally or physically abuses their child should face sentencing by a concerned jury of their community peers.

Spanking is one thing, but abuse is another, and spanking should not be viewed by society as abuse, but simple forms of discipline to keep our children aware of their wrong doings and aware of the importance of respect for people, all people.

© June 2005 by CR Hamilton