Smack or spoil the child?
Spare the rod and spoil the child is one of those proverbs that has gone into disuse. Forget corporal punishment, modern parents will tell you that even raising one’s voice to admonish an errant kid is now almost impossible, since it could affect the child’s self-esteem and we all know what that could lead to — hefty psychiatrist bills!
There are many who still believe that six of the best, or a smack or two, is a good way to keep delinquent children in line. A British MP has said abandoning such firm measures has undermined parental discipline and raised youngsters of the type who recently went on a frenzied rampage in that country. Britain’s nanny state has interfered too much in domestic matters and now it’s time to reverse such regulations and allow smacking, says he, a Liberal Democrat by the way.
Today’s parents well remember how they used to get a clip behind the ear in their own childhood for even the slightest misdemeanour, such as poor marks or telling lies or getting caught sneaking a quick puff. But now, having grown up, their hands are literally tied. They may well be silently cheering the MP’s ideas.
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