Spring Break
LTTE: Abusive child discipline ineffective
Issue date: 2/17/09 Section: Opinion
We find it astonishing that Brian Lancaster could be so hypocritical as to lecture anyone about social responsibility. Mr. Lancaster's column, although perhaps written in jest, advises parents to "Torture … mercilessly beat" and force children to cower into the fetal position, all of which meet the statutory definition of child abuse. Advising parents to beat their children is socially irresponsible, and in our opinion reprehensible.
Colorado ranks third in the nation for child deaths resulting from child abuse according to the National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System. In our country, three children die every day from child abuse. A substantial body of research indicates that corporal punishment does not lead to children's self-regulated behavior. To the contrary, it is consistently associated with much higher rates of aggression, delinquency and multiple other negative child outcomes later in development.
Parents who use discipline strategies such as reasoning, consequences and, yes, timeouts are more successful in encouraging self-regulated behavior. In short, children should have their own social and moral compass to guide their way through life. Blind obedience to authority figures will not result in self-regulated behavior. Parents should encourage important skills like autonomy, empathy, commitment to a cause and thoughtfulness.
We disagree that Brian Lancaster "turned out great." As an "educated" adult, he supports the use of physical abuse between human beings. Such views perpetuate violence and hatred in the world. Perhaps it would be better to encourage empathy and kindness.
Aimee Walker, graduate student
David MacPhee, professor
Human Development and Family Studies
Colorado ranks third in the nation for child deaths resulting from child abuse according to the National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System. In our country, three children die every day from child abuse. A substantial body of research indicates that corporal punishment does not lead to children's self-regulated behavior. To the contrary, it is consistently associated with much higher rates of aggression, delinquency and multiple other negative child outcomes later in development.
Parents who use discipline strategies such as reasoning, consequences and, yes, timeouts are more successful in encouraging self-regulated behavior. In short, children should have their own social and moral compass to guide their way through life. Blind obedience to authority figures will not result in self-regulated behavior. Parents should encourage important skills like autonomy, empathy, commitment to a cause and thoughtfulness.
We disagree that Brian Lancaster "turned out great." As an "educated" adult, he supports the use of physical abuse between human beings. Such views perpetuate violence and hatred in the world. Perhaps it would be better to encourage empathy and kindness.
Aimee Walker, graduate student
David MacPhee, professor
Human Development and Family Studies
Viewing Comments 1 - 10 of 17
Peace Love
posted 2/17/09 @ 1:38 PM MST
Dear, Aimee Walker and David MacPhee
The outright ignorance and stupidly that you pedal has ruined millions of lost and adrift kids in this country. (Continued…)
Ali
posted 2/17/09 @ 3:49 PM MST
In regard to the response of Mr. Lancaster's column; you are right, and I agree with you. Child abuse is not something to be taken lightly, and a parent should never physically, emotionally, or verbally abuse their children. (Continued…)
Skeptical White Man
posted 2/17/09 @ 9:28 PM MST
I would guess these two are advocates of the adage, "violence is never the answer." Unfortunately human nature and world history both speak to the fact that violence is all too often, the only definite answer. (Continued…)
Ska Kid
Mark
posted 2/19/09 @ 10:49 AM MST
What really sickens me about this is that those two more than likely don't even know Brian Lancaster. I do, and yes, he turned out just fine. They simply have never encountered sarcasm, and have seemingly no sense of humor. (Continued…)
Coury
posted 2/19/09 @ 6:02 PM MST
I'm sorry but the thought of hitting a child to make them behave is sickening. I've met people who were savagely beaten by their parents as a child and it almost ruined them. (Continued…)
Peace Love
posted 2/21/09 @ 12:26 PM MST
Dear Chuck, Coury, and Me,
Your inability to do research, your exceptional ability to create false statistics just to demean another individual and to dismiss facts for ideology, and your asinine inference that a spanking is a savage beating, perhaps explains why the true child abusers and murderers continue to commit their atrocities while people like you erect straw men. (Continued…)
Chunk
posted 2/21/09 @ 7:02 PM MST
Peace Love-
You have suddenly changed this into a rant against women. Hope it makes you feel better. I responded to your original post here because I don't believe there is any connection between "a lack of spanking" and incarceration rates. (Continued…)
Chunk
posted 2/21/09 @ 8:33 PM MST
From http://www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/factsheets/fatality.cfm
"Most fatalities from physical abuse are caused by fathers and other male caretakers. (Continued…)
Peace Love
posted 2/22/09 @ 12:15 AM MST
Chuck, baby, why are you the only person on the planet who can't find this data.
It's the third time the DHHS has published this report.
It's the most respected statistical report on child abuse and neglect published in the free world. (Continued…)
Chunk
posted 2/22/09 @ 12:01 PM MST
Thanks for pointing out the NIS-3 to me. It will make for interesting reading. A quick glance of it from this site
http://www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/statsinfo/nis3. (Continued…)
Post a Comment