[Last Name] 1

Leyna Reyes
Professor Jackie
English 28
03/20/2016
Corporal Punishment
People live in a time where lots of children and teens are very disrespectful to authority
figures and parents. People need to be allowed to physically discipline their kids again. Not only
do kids need to respect their parents, but they must fear them as well. Because the law prohibits
parents to discipline their kids, they feel as if they are untouchable. Some of these basic
punishments do not work for all kids. Many kids like to learn the hard way. Which should be
corporal punishment. There will be a better outcome, and kids will learn to behave and respect
authority with little or no repetition.

People have gone to restaurants where we see children throw silverware, or are being
loud and obnoxious. The parents ask their children more than once or twice to stop or to behave.
The children do not listen.These are the kids and moments where corporal punishment comes in
handy. After the third time, they should be taken to the restroom or car, and be whipped. I am
almost certain that most parents would love to do that, but because of the law, parents can only
give them a little spank on the behind. Even when lightly spanking occurs, there is always a nosy
person trying to intervene by call authorities.That is the number one reason why parents are
afraid to physically discipline their children.

I have experienced few times where I felt like slapping my tween. The eye rolling, the
snappiness, the talking under their breath, the door slamming, the lack of effort to maintain okay

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grades was happening when the discipline was grounding, no phone, no friends could come
over, no new clothes. No anything. I had my tween cleaning day and night. I had long
conversations with her. I tried explaining to her what the consequences to her bad behavior
would be. I even got a therapist for her so she could figure out why she was rebelling. There was
no excuse for her behavior. She did not live in a dysfunctional home.

My tween got used to not having friends over, not having a phone. She liked the dirty
raggedy look. She even enjoyed having a therapist. All these punishments where not working.
Not only did her behavior not improve, it seemed to backfire. She wasnt afraid of me. She came
home with a hickey. I finally decide to physically punish my child. I hit her. I was not afraid of
what might have happened.

After I physically punished my child, she was afraid of me. There was no more rolling
eyes, there was no more slamming doors. She willingly helped around the house. All of a sudden
she started thanking me for things I had always done for her. It was as she had become a different
person. I am not saying she's a angel now, but she has changed tremendously. I am not saying
every child need physical discipline. But if all else fails, corporal punishment should be allowed.
It works. And I am not afraid to use it.
When my youngest daughter has her little friends over she gets a little excited and forgets
the rules. I find myself repeating everything more than three times and she'll still ignore me. As
soon as I give her a little tug on the ear, everything changes. She's suddenly very attentive and
listens to everything after that. Dr. Dobson says that when a child experiences minor bruises,
bumps or scratches, the child learns of life's boundaries. That does not make a child aggressive or

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violent. The same theory applies when loving parents use corporal punishment. The pain teaches
children to avoid making the same mistakes.
According to Dr. James Dobson, founder and president of "Family Talk," corporal
punishment is beneficial when used in a loving and properly manner. In his article, he lets us
know that everything is a lesson. If a child receives corporal punishment from a loving parent,
they have no trouble understanding the meaning of it. Especially when a child is being willfully
disobedient. Dr. Dobson gives examples throughout his article to better explain why it is a good
method to physically discipline children. I completely agree with him. I do not feel that my child
resents me for hitting her.
For example, if a young child pulls on tablecloth and hurts him/herself in the face with a
vase, or whatever is on the table, the child receives physical pain, and learns that pulling a
tablecloth with something on it will cause pain. Now, the child will hesitate pulling on another
tablecloth again. Another example that Dr. James gives, is when a child touches a hot stove and
gets burned, the child feels pain. The child then learns not to ever touch a stove, or at least when
it's hot. The same message is being sent out when a parent physically disciplines a child,
especially when there is willful disobedience.
On the other hand, Barbara Greenberg, Connecticut based psychologist, says physical
punishment will make a child feel shame. Shame leads to depression. Although physical
discipline might help some kids, some parents can overdo it. If the parents hit their children in
front of people, it may lead to shame/depression. Especially if physical punishment becomes a
daily routine. Barbara thinks that when physically disciplining kids, the wrong message is being
sent out. The message it is sending is that conflict is solved physically. I do agree with her to a

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certain extent. This only occurs when the there has not been any other method used but physical
punishment. Only then is when the child might think that is the only way of solving an issue.

Corporal punishment should be allowed. It works when used at the right moment and
when everything else fails. Some children ask for it. Not in words, but in their actions. A child
does not only need to love and respect their parents, but need to fear them as well. It's an honor
to have a child feel this way towards their parents.

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Works Cited
Zeidler, Sari. To spank or not to spank. Where do we draw the line?. CNN
U.S edition.
Dobson, Dr. James. Article Title. Is spanking healthy discipline?
Dr. James Dobson family Talk