Tuesday, November 07, 2006
So, I figured it was about time to shake things up a little here, and other then telling stories about flying pasta or pizza people, I figured a little bit of controversy should do the trick. Today I was sitting here at work, and I had to deal with yet another CAS case (which is normal for my job) in which the issue of discipline came up.
Now, just to provide some background here. It was recently decided in the Supreme Court that spanking one's child with an object is now a criminal offence in Canada. So, if someone were to find out that you physically discipline your child and you use an object, they would be obligated to report you, and you could spend time in jail for doing this. That being said, you are allowed to physically discipline your child using your hand on their buttocks if they are between the ages of 2 and 10.
Now, I do not have children so I believe I am a little biased on this issue, or perhaps even idealistic. However, I do not believe that physical discipline is necessary in raising children.
Now, I know right off the bat some of you are going to completely disagree with that statement. My guess is that those people who disagree for Biblical reasons will be quickly flipping through their Bibles in order to show me verses such as "Spare the rod, spoil the child" in Proverbs. I would like to point out something before you start quoting Bible verses in order to support your view. Proverbs does not say that you have to physically discipline your child in order for you to raise them in a Biblical way. It says that you need to discipline them, in order for them to realize what is right and wrong. I do believe that discipline is necessary when raising children; however, physically disciplining them by hitting them or some other form, I do not believe is necessary.
What frustrates me is that people within the Christian circles tend to automatically default to spanking, without trying other methods of discipline. When I was a child, you could spank me and I would feel bad - but take away my books for a week and I thought the world was going to end. I believe that there are many alternatives, and even better alternatives then physical discipline when trying to teach your child a lesson.
Perhaps my thoughts on this are based on me working at pregnancy centres and with the CAS...and thus seeing children who have been abused, or families who despite the fact that their children may be taken from them and they could face jail time refuse to stop spanking their children with an object. Perhaps I am giving up freedom for the sake of peace. But if I was facing jail time and the loss of my children over the fact that I used an object to physically discipline them, I would drop the object fairly quickly.
Do I think that making spanking a criminal offence is going to stop abuse? No, I really don't. Do I think families should have the right to choose whether or not they physically discipline their children? Within reason - yes. Do I think physical discipline is taught as necessary to raise Godly children in the Bible? At this time no.
In conclusion, I do not believe physical discipline is necessary in raising children. Perhaps I am idealistic, but I really hope I can follow my line of thought when I have my own children.
Now, just to provide some background here. It was recently decided in the Supreme Court that spanking one's child with an object is now a criminal offence in Canada. So, if someone were to find out that you physically discipline your child and you use an object, they would be obligated to report you, and you could spend time in jail for doing this. That being said, you are allowed to physically discipline your child using your hand on their buttocks if they are between the ages of 2 and 10.
Now, I do not have children so I believe I am a little biased on this issue, or perhaps even idealistic. However, I do not believe that physical discipline is necessary in raising children.
Now, I know right off the bat some of you are going to completely disagree with that statement. My guess is that those people who disagree for Biblical reasons will be quickly flipping through their Bibles in order to show me verses such as "Spare the rod, spoil the child" in Proverbs. I would like to point out something before you start quoting Bible verses in order to support your view. Proverbs does not say that you have to physically discipline your child in order for you to raise them in a Biblical way. It says that you need to discipline them, in order for them to realize what is right and wrong. I do believe that discipline is necessary when raising children; however, physically disciplining them by hitting them or some other form, I do not believe is necessary.
What frustrates me is that people within the Christian circles tend to automatically default to spanking, without trying other methods of discipline. When I was a child, you could spank me and I would feel bad - but take away my books for a week and I thought the world was going to end. I believe that there are many alternatives, and even better alternatives then physical discipline when trying to teach your child a lesson.
Perhaps my thoughts on this are based on me working at pregnancy centres and with the CAS...and thus seeing children who have been abused, or families who despite the fact that their children may be taken from them and they could face jail time refuse to stop spanking their children with an object. Perhaps I am giving up freedom for the sake of peace. But if I was facing jail time and the loss of my children over the fact that I used an object to physically discipline them, I would drop the object fairly quickly.
Do I think that making spanking a criminal offence is going to stop abuse? No, I really don't. Do I think families should have the right to choose whether or not they physically discipline their children? Within reason - yes. Do I think physical discipline is taught as necessary to raise Godly children in the Bible? At this time no.
In conclusion, I do not believe physical discipline is necessary in raising children. Perhaps I am idealistic, but I really hope I can follow my line of thought when I have my own children.
Labels: Controversial Issues