There was an arse on the Today programme this morning, calling for the return of corporal punishment to schools. One in five teachers, he says, want it ‘as an option’.
Two points, then: a) that means four in five don’t want it, and b) why do you think it’s all right to use violence against children? (and as a corollary, how do you think doing so will make them less prone to using violence themselves?)
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Today’s children do not come from the tradition of accepting this form of discipline. The first person to rap one over the knuckles with a ruler will get a punch in the face.
That’s an interesting thought, Ang. I’m not sure that it would work as an argument against corporal punishment for the type of guy who was on Today today.
My own children express real horror at the thought that it was once acceptable for adults to hit children. That we experienced it is proof, if it were needed, that their parents come from The Past.
Mutual respect, that’s the thing.