Debates on whether the use of physical force to discipline children is ever acceptable have once again been reignited with
legislation passed in Ireland in early November to remove the defence of
"reasonable chastisement" for corporal punishment.
In
new research conducted by the
Young Lives study at the University of Oxford using longitudinal data from Ethiopia, India, Peru and Vietnam, we found that
children who experienced corporal punishment performed worse in maths, four years later. The research was part of
UNICEF's Multi Country Study on the Drivers of Violence Affecting Children.
The use of physical punishment, such as smacking, slapping or hitting with a hand or implement, is contrary to the
UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, which has been ratified by all states except the US. Yet only
47 countries have, like Ireland, introduced legislation to protect children from corporal punishment in all settings, including the home and school.
Corporal punishment excites strong points of view.
Proponents argue that "mild" or "moderate" forms of corporal punishment are an effective and non-detrimental means of instilling discipline and obedience into children. When talking about my research on corporal punishment I often encounter the response: "I was hit and it never did me any harm".
Opponents stress the hypocrisy of laws that do not extend the same protection to children as is afforded to adults.
Comment: Well, staring at your naval thinking good thoughts won't make the problem go away. People should reconnect with their empathy and quit supporting the psychopaths in power.