Corporal Punishment: Overview

Corporal punishment ethics are well recognized to have altered over time. Their alternations are in blame for a worldwide controversy amongst individuals as they oppose different sides. Numerous caretakers argue that corporal punishment should not be abolished as rebellious behaviors have increased amongst generations. They feel that corporal punishment should be enforced in the school system as help improve rebellious behavior. At the same time, other caretakers argue that corporal punishment should be abolished.
They feel that caretakers are surpassing corporal punishment as they are turning it into child abuse. Corporal punishment is still practiced despite of the opinions of numerous individuals. Despite the approving of corporal punishment of several caretakers, I personally oppose corporal punishment as it can bring out negative mentally along psychological behaviors. I feel that various caretakers are taking corporal punishment to extreme measure as several do not recognize when enough is enough.
I feel that corporal punishment is not an effective means of discipline. I feel that such practices simply augment to rebellious, aggressive, and antisocial behavior. The authors to “Is Corporal Punishment an effective means of discipline” (2002), an article in the American Psychological Association corporal punishment state that corporal punishment can in fact build up antisocial behavior in children such as emotional and physical problems.

In addition, the authors state that brutalizing children can lower their self-esteem and teaching them poor self-control can lead them into unsatisfying relationships with others. Furthermore, “Is Corporal Punishment an effective means of discipline” (2002), states that corporal punishment can cause children to become brutalizing adults. Elizabeth Thompson Gershoff, of the National Center for Children in Poverty at Columbia University, observed both positive and negative behaviors of children who were associated with corporal punishment.
In her studies, Gershoff found that ten of the associations increased children’s aggression, antisocial, as well as criminal behavior ( 2002). In addition, I feel that corporal punishment within the school system is unacceptable. ” Corporal Punishment: Teaching Violence Through violence” (2002), an article in the Education World, states that teachers are enforcing corporal punishment for all the wrong reason such as being unorganized with homework assignments as well as school supplies.
The authors say that corporal punishment within the school system may be capable of adding to a child’s aggressive behavior that may later turn into criminal. “Virginia Tech students mourn the victims at a candlelight vigil! ”(2008) an article in School violence in The United States, says that corporal punishment can fact turn into criminal acts such as in the 1995 in Giles County, Tennessee case. “Virginia Tech students mourn the victims at a candlelight vigil! ”(2008), says that corporal punishment led 17-year old Jamie Rouse to do a school shooting.
In the act he shot two teachers in the head and a student attempting to shoot a football coach who imposed corporal punishment. Jamie Rouse had warned several classmates as well as teachers of his act, yet no one believed him. I feel that extreme corporal punishment caused Jamie Rouse to commit this act of violence. Furthermore, I feel that this act of violence could have been prevented if caretakers would have listened to him. Corporal punishment can not only cause antisocial, and criminal behavior, it can escalate to child abuse as well.
Laurie A Couture, the author of “Abolishing Corporal Punishment of Children” (1999), says that caretakers frequently turn corporal punishment into child abuse without becoming conscious of it. Couture (1999), says caretakers often enforce corporal punishment by pking, smacking or taking bathroom privileges which can be inhumane and degrading to children. In addition, caretakers often feel that corporal punishment is their last option of discipline which causes them to use extreme measures of corporal punishment that can lead to child abuse.
To defend their actions, caretakers argue that they never intended to cause any harm by putting corporal punishment into effect. They assume corporal punishment will not be harmful to children as it didn’t them any harm as a child. Couture (1999), says parents are not familiar with the fact that a pk to the buttocks of children can cause children to become sexually aroused as the sciatic nerve runs from the buttocks to the genitals. This sort of corporal punishment can be considered child abuse if the pking reaches extreme measures.
As caretakers have several arguments in favor of corporal punishment, I strongly oppose it for numerous reasons. I feel that corporal punishment can lead to child abuse with out caretakers being aware of it. Moreover, I feel that corporal punishment is being taken advantage of as numerous caretakers attempt to defend their corrective actions by claiming they were practicing corporal punishment. I feel that caretakers can impose healthier discipline techniques that do not engage corporal punishment such as the proposed by Couture (1999).
Couture (1999), says that caretakers can practice positive consistent discipline that is non-punitive, develop a respectful relationship with their children as well as maintaining the lines of communication open by communicating with children. School systems can develop discipline plans that are positive and based on systems of logical consequences and restitution. I feel that as a society, we can help abolish corporal punishment in different ways. We can develop better ways to discipline children.