Smacking: cruel to be kind or just plain wrong
It is an issue which burns as fiercely as a smack on the legs. The grown-ups have had their say on smacking, but where do kids stand? Children's Express journalists were asked their opinions by the Sheffield Star.
| When I see a parent hitting a young child I feel angry and I feel like hitting the parent and seeing how they feel. |
NO
I dont think adults should smack younger children because when Ive been in bother I have always been grounded as a punishment and I have found most of the time it does actually work.
The other day, on my way to school, I saw a mother hitting her son. She was telling him to get in front. After he ignored her after being told, she called him a spoilt brat, and then smacked him across the face. The kid started crying. I thought there was no need for it at all. When I was there watching the little boy in tears, I felt like doing the same to the mother. Ive heard adults saying it serves the children right but I totally disagree. I think parents who are always hitting their children only make the matters worse. Those kids then go and beat up other kids because they cant hit back at their parents. Kids then become violent themselves.
Wesley Taylor, age 13
NO
I think that when kids are young they should be disciplined but when they are older, in their teenage years, they are old enough to learn with just a shouting at. They should be taught the difference between right and wrong when they are young but, sometimes, adults go too far and it gets too violent.
Years ago, at school, they used to get slippered and caned but that got out of hand because it hurt them more than teaching them a lesson. Some people should bring caning back because they thought it was better discipline but I disagree because the kids will get mad and be even worse. Some parents hit their kids to toughen them up but it makes their kids start hitting at school and it causes more violence.
When I see a parent hitting a young child I feel angry and I feel like hitting the parent and seeing how they feel. I think hitting doesnt make a difference at all because if a kid wants to learn he doesnt need punishing or shouting at, hes got to want to do it himself.
Mark Lewis, age 14
NO
I think there are many other ways to punish children other than smacking them.
I dont think they will correct their mistakes if they are smacked. Shouted at and grounding is enough punishment for many children.
Many parents may go over the top and hurt their children a bit too much if they know that there is not a law against it. There is no need for it, there is a lot of other punishment parents can turn to. I think action should be taken against parents who smack their children through drug and alcohol abuse, something should be done to the parents who think its fine to smack or even beat on their children.
I think when parents smack their children they are encouraging their children to smack or beat on their children, or even when they have husbands and wives it may encourage them to beat on them.
Anna Bradshaw, age 16
YES
I think children under ten should be smacked because it makes them understand where their boundaries are. But they shouldnt be smacked round the head because they may get brain damaged.
Children over ten shouldnt be smacked because it just makes them become bad-tempered and sometimes violent.
The cane and slipper should be banned, because it only makes kids be bodily harmed. Adults should definitely think before smacking their kids because it could mean it turns from an argument into a family row.
On television, all the news reporters talk about is that the schools want to bring back the cane so the kids can become more disciplined. The reporters never talk about how it makes the child feel; if you hit a child it scars them for life.
If I was a mother, I would hate to think that my child could come home bodily harmed.
Sometimes, being shouted at is a better form of punishment. Lots of times when I was younger I was shouted at in public and Ive almost started crying. But I really think that shouting at a child is a lot more efficient than being hit.
Nicola Bevan, age 13
SOMETIMES
Smacking doesnt work with older children because they just smack their parents back, but with young children it sometimes does. It helps keep them in line and teaches them right from wrong. I dont agree with smacking, though, because there is a difference between a clip around the ear and a full on smack.
When parents smack kids in public places, I think thats really horrible and embarrassing, especially for the kids. I once saw a parent dragging their kid around and hitting them. I dont think the kid did anything major, but the parent was going wild. I think sometimes parents smack their kids, not as a punishment, but to let their child know whos boss and to make themselves feel good.
I think the law making smacking illegal is really good and I really agree with it because some parents can go way over the top and it can really affect a kid. But, I dont think it will wipe smacking out totally, because a little smack may help a kid and keep them in line and well behaved.
Samantha Chetwynd, age 14
About the article
This article was published in the Sheffield Star.
