The Ongoing Controversy Over the Use of Corporal Punishment

According to the Asian Developing Nations, “One of the biggest controversies when it comes to raising a child is whether or not to use corporal punishment, or spanking, when disciplining a child” (“The Argument....Child” np). Some advocates for spanking claim that the use of corporal punishment on children is acceptable, while opponents of spanking disagree due to certain factors that occur when applying the use of spanking. There are also people who agree that under certain scenarios that some child rearing should be applied (Ramsburg np). For those who are undecided though, there will be presented information from both sides of the spectrum to clarify some common questions about corporal punishment, hopefully allowing for a chance to chose a side that seems right. For the people who already have their minds made up read along anyways seeing the other side of the argument might cause a change of heart.

Ramsburg claims, “Part of the reason for the debate is that parents and experts often define spanking differently” (np). Most parents describe the definition of spanking as simply a slap to the rear end; others describe it as hitting the child anywhere, including the hand or face. Some people state that spanking is the same thing as corporal punishment, in that it is a form of correcting a child without leaving injury (Leman 28). The dictionary’s definition of corporal punishment is, “....the use of physical force with the intention of causing bodily pain, but not injury for the purpose of correction or control” (qtd in Bringing......Down 11). Now that parents and experts have a concrete definition of what corporal punishment is, it’s time to find out what their views on it actually are.