Editor's Note: Tuesday’s American Morning audience debated the spanking study from Tulane University that found children who were spanked frequently at 3-years-old were 50 percent more likely to become aggressive by the age of five. While the majority opinion favored spanking as a form of discipline, some equated the act with abuse.
- Raymond: Joking about spanking – child abuse – is far, far, far from funny. Spanking, child abuse, is domestic violence and plants the seeds that perpetuate a vicious cycle of battery. Would you joke about a battered spouse? I was a victim and thoroughly resent your employees making light of such a serious issue. It impacts my life to this day and is no joking matter I can assure you.
- Cindy: about spanking...i have raised 2 girls and 2 boys and now helping with 8 grands. if you spank only when needed at a young age you establish a healthy fear of consequence. none of my kids are violent they are wonderful citizens. and my grands know i am the alpha-dog of discipline who loves them enough to spank. if you do it at the right age you won't have to do it very often. i got one spanking my whole life and turned great. Thanks
- Bruce: I am a 48 year old from Toronto, Canada. I was the recipient of a few spankings in my younger days; but never without a just reason. That was just the way parenting was done in those days. As a recovering alcoholic and addict now, when I reflect on those days I feel that it actually prevented me from becoming aggressive. Instead I became meek and lacking in self confidence. Obviously, since I am in recovery, I rebelled when I was quite a bit older. I would be interested in hearing your experts opinion on this.
- Bill: I do not agree with the theory that spanking creates violent adults. all people my age (68) were spanked, we had no gangs no school shootings and very little crime. Children today need more discipline not less. Many of my friends quit because they could no longer discipline students, Today, my mother could be put in jail for the way she raised me. I have never been in trouble.
- Phillip: spanking : defined is the NON VIOLENT way to show a TAP OR STING to ones child. it represents DISCIPLINE. A NON VIOLENT MEANS TO LET A CHILD UNDERSTAND THAT THE BEHAVIOR ON GOING IS NOT TOLERABLE. spanking is not is not is not : a violent act. One who can use physical violence to hit a child is clearly not spanking. DONOT DEFINE SPANKING WITH THE MEANS BY WHICH ONE USES HITTING A VERY VIOLENT MARRING FORM OF HATE AND ANGER TO DEFINE AN ACT OF DISCIPLINE. " CORPORAL PUNISHMENT IS MORE TO THIS DEFINED ACT OF HITTING." spanking is an old well defined means to get a child to understand that violence and bad temper get one sent to " the room" .and with a TAP of love causing a child to become alerted to this stinging pain. AGAIN THIS IS NOT AN ACT OF AGRESSIVE VIOLENCE. today both the interviewers and the person being interviewed used " spanking and hitting as if these words were synonymous with each other. clearly they are not."
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