When I wrote my
paper in 1998 I suggested that reasonable chastisement should be understood as
less than causing
Actual Bodily Harm (ABH) instead of less than
Grievous Bodily Harm
(GBH). Although they haven't described it in these terms, the UK Government
seems to have done what I suggested in reaching a compromise which prevent
the Lords banning smacking altogether.
There is now quite a head of steam behind the
campaign
to ban all corporal punishment based on the flawed idea that children should
have the same rights as adults. In fact they have different and much more
protective rights: like not being criminally responsible under the age of
ten and many more. It seems to me that there is a simple choice We
can already see my prediction coming true: More and more police involvement
in schools, the advent of ASBO's (Anti-social behaviour orders) and even
metal detectors in schools. I chuckle when I think what my headmaster would
have thought of that. The choice is between parents controlling children
or the police. Anyone of my generation who saw the recent television pictures
of young children, out of control, terrorizing their community will have
had but one thought. They needed a good hiding!
My further prediction is this. If the misguided people behind the campaign
to ban corporal punishment get their way, we shall see eight year olds in
handcuffs and police officers in every school. If that is what you want fine.
If not then write to
your MP asking that the Government should return power
to parents and encourage them to control their children from a young age
with sensible smacks
and lots of love and attention. At the moment
many parents believe smacking is already illegal, fear their child
might tell at school and cause all sorts of trouble and so they resort to
angry shouting instead.
Why smacks? Angry shouting is not a good thing, so
have you seen the alternative proposed. That was on the Telly recently too.
It involved
imprisoning three year olds in a room
on their own (A so-called
safe room)
for three minutes. The program suggested a minute for each year of age. It
also suggested giving lots of hugs and kisses when they were good and
rejecting them when
they were not. To me that is cruel and inhuman. I know that is how I was
brought up! Instead a smack and a cuddle closes a naughty incident and immediately
restores peace without any need for rejection.