Reiterate Reform or Self Destruct? Horrors of Child Abuse

As Susan Smith's fate was announced, all of America was in turmoil. To advocates of capital punishment, Smith is not worthy of the taxpayer's money that will be used to support her in prison. Even those who oppose the death penalty are in shock. Why? The infamous South Carolinian begged our nation to find and return her babies safely; later, she admitted that she had driven her car into a lake with her children strapped inside, drowning her two young sons. Mothers across our country gasped in horror; fathers shook their heads in disbelief. A tragedy indeed.

In past centuries, the realm of society may not have registered the incident as a tragedy. Our ancestors, during childhood, were regarded as miniature adults- to be seen and not heard. They had little function in society, serving mainly as property of their parents. More astonishing to our era of thinking, a 17th century Massachusetts' law approved capital punishment for children over the age of sixteen who cursed their parents (Jost, 1993).

Private groups began the philosophy of child protection during the nineteenth century. With the government's blessing, progressive reformers founded the Children's Aid Society in 1853. The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children began laying the foundations so the courts could remove children from abusive homes in the 1870's. Historical parents begot children for the benefit of the family. Today's standard has evolved children as essential for their parent's emotional gratification (Winn, 1983).

In 1974, our government realized similar tragedies happen on a daily basis; thus, the National Center on Child Abuse and Neglect was formed. Child abuse has many dimensions and is defined in many ways. Some definitions characterize it as "non-accidental harm to children by their parents and/or caregivers" (Lexicon Universal Encyclopedia, 1993). Others describe it as "any intentional act of commission or omission that prevents or impedes a child's normal growth or development" (Forward, 1989).