Parents will not be banned from smacking their children, the government has announced, despite pressure from campaigners who say it is ineffective and sends mixed messages. Ministers said the law in England and Wales will remain unchanged after a review found that most parents do not want a complete ban.
But they are already subject to laws on smacking, tightened in 2004 to stop parents and carers who assaulted children using “reasonable punishment” as defence. Under the current law, parents can smack their children as long as it doesn’t leave bruises, grazes or swelling. A more severe physical punishment can result in imprisonment of up to 5 years.
Is the “no total ban” decision a victory for common sense? From your experience, what is the most effective way to instill a sense of discipline in children?
Trackback
2 comments so far
As with everything else it has to be pure common sense on the issue of smacking. Sadly there are many parents who do for any reason and many who do not but the decision to have a total ban seems futile. It is true that there are people who smack too readily and do not go about it in the name of true discipline but there a few who fear for chastising their children. When i grew up my father used to hit us with a belt if we misbehaved continuously and i personally think this kind of treatment to children is unacceptable and consequently my siblings and i have nothing to do with him now. The decision needs to be monitored as does every aspect of child cruelty but it is like everything up to the parent and IN MODERATION ONLY!
- Posted by JoKids are happiest and most secure when they are taught clear standards of acceptable behaviour, both at home and at school, and if this teaching is done correctly there is no need for smacking. I never had any need to smack my own child, who grew up with a clear sense of the difference between right and wrong and was always polite and friendly with others. Unfortunately a great many parents have no idea of how to behave themselves, much less of how to train their kids, and education authorities have bowed to government diktat and abdicated their responsibility for discipline in schools.
As for the supposed change of mind by the government, its Socialist mind set is to break down the conventional forms of authority in society and replace them with laws designed to embed and perpetuate its own influence. Removing the authority of parents to discipline their own children is simply one aspect of this and, although the current parlous state of the government in the opinion polls has temporarily frightened it off, it will return to it.
- Posted by Mike T