ur 50 states still allow the use of corporal punishment by authorities in schools and in childcare programs. According to child abuse laws, it is acceptable to hit ones child as long as it doesnt leave a wound or a bruise. The word spanking conveniently disguises the violence in the word hitting. (Hyman 17) However, regardless of intent, spanking a child is an act of violence. By hitting, parents are actually teaching children to engage in violence. Being hit teaches children that violence is an acceptable means to solve a problem. It teaches children that it is permissible to use physical force as a last resort to getting their way. Hitting also teaches children that it is acceptable to use physical force to control those weaker than themselves. (Straus 216) Society is increasingly more concerned about escalating violence and increased drug use among young people. Organizations spend millions of dollars on so-called intervention and prevention programs and campaigns, at loss for why these attempts cant put a dent in the problem. The essential ingredient that all these attempts lack, is an intolerance of violence against children. Instead of attacking the roots of social problems, societys campaigns focus on the symptoms. This sways responsibility for the symptoms away from adults and places the blame on young people. According to the research compiled in his book, Beating The Devil Out of Them, (1994), Dr. Murray Straus not only shows that corporal punishment teaches children that violence is acceptable, but that it also carries with it a host of detrimental physical, psychological and social health risks.The physical abuse of a child usually starts out as just a spanking. Spanking, especially when administered to a child out of anger, can easily escalate into legal definitions of physical abuse. Straus (1994) reports that parents who approved of corporal punishment had a much higher rate of going beyond that and severely assaulting ...
