Comments on: Child Discipline Article Disses Credibility of Social Workers http://www.socialworkersspeak.org/cheers-and-jeers/child-discipline-article-disses-credibility-of-social-workers.html NASW Communications Network - Social Workers speak out on television, movies and other media Wed, 08 Feb 2012 18:45:55 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: J. Paul Baker http://www.socialworkersspeak.org/cheers-and-jeers/child-discipline-article-disses-credibility-of-social-workers.html#comment-10117 J. Paul Baker Wed, 28 Apr 2010 02:25:40 +0000 http://www.socialworkersspeak.org/?p=1661#comment-10117 To all the professional Social Workers, I admire your work as I have family and friends with MSW's in various fields. So I have an honest question about the above. I have three younger brothers, 11 cousins and we all received some type of corporal (physical) punishment. (And usually, helpful appropriate discipline.) Among the 15 of us are doctors, a dentist, an accountant, consultants, a fireman, housewives, a high-tech mechanic, and I'm a stay-at-home dad with two adopted daughters. Most of us grew up in a church-attending environment, and 20% of us served in the military. Knowing my family, I would guess that all would say that: a) they turned out "fine"; and b) most have used the same techniques on their kids. None of us have been arrested, charged with child abuse and/or domestic violence. Many of us do charitable work, including overseas medical work, and volunteering as I did, in places such as New Orleans after Katrina. So, given the lack of empirical data and references stated above, how is that we - and most of the people I've met living in seven different states - as recipients of spanking - turned out to be functioning, rational, religious, self-sacrificing contributors to our country and the world at large?? It seems to me that the evidence of my family adhering to the biblical verse "Spare the rod, spoil the child", was the BEST method. Thanks in advance for your thoughtful response. J.Paul To all the professional Social Workers,
I admire your work as I have family and friends with MSW’s in various fields. So I have an honest question about the above. I have three younger brothers, 11 cousins and we all received some type of corporal (physical) punishment. (And usually, helpful appropriate discipline.) Among the 15 of us are doctors, a dentist, an accountant, consultants, a fireman, housewives, a high-tech mechanic, and I’m a stay-at-home dad with two adopted daughters. Most of us grew up in a church-attending environment, and 20% of us served in the military.
Knowing my family, I would guess that all would say that: a) they turned out “fine”; and b) most have used the same techniques on their kids. None of us have been arrested, charged with child abuse and/or domestic violence. Many of us do charitable work, including overseas medical work, and volunteering as I did, in places such as New Orleans after Katrina.
So, given the lack of empirical data and references stated above, how is that we – and most of the people I’ve met living in seven different states – as recipients of spanking – turned out to be functioning, rational, religious, self-sacrificing contributors to our country and the world at large?? It seems to me that the evidence of my family adhering to the biblical verse “Spare the rod, spoil the child”, was the BEST method.
Thanks in advance for your thoughtful response.
J.Paul

]]> By: Tom Tharayil LCSW, BCD http://www.socialworkersspeak.org/cheers-and-jeers/child-discipline-article-disses-credibility-of-social-workers.html#comment-1424 Tom Tharayil LCSW, BCD Mon, 11 Jan 2010 23:29:19 +0000 http://www.socialworkersspeak.org/?p=1661#comment-1424 While I appreciate learning that a story like this exists and the position the NASW takes: I would like to know if further action is taken. For example, will the editors of this paper receive a response from the NASW? While I appreciate learning that a story like this exists and the position the NASW takes: I would like to know if further action is taken. For example, will the editors of this paper receive a response from the NASW?

]]> By: PDeverit http://www.socialworkersspeak.org/cheers-and-jeers/child-discipline-article-disses-credibility-of-social-workers.html#comment-1349 PDeverit Wed, 06 Jan 2010 21:12:25 +0000 http://www.socialworkersspeak.org/?p=1661#comment-1349 Child buttock-battering vs. DISCIPLINE: Child buttock-battering (euphemistically labeled "spanking","swatting","switching","smacking", "paddling",or other cute-sounding names) for the purpose of gaining compliance is nothing more than an inherited bad habit. It's a good idea for people to take a look at what they are doing, and learn how to DISCIPLINE instead of hit. I think the reason why television shows like "Supernanny" and "Dr. Phil" are so popular is because that is precisely what many (not all) people are trying to do. There are several reasons why child bottom-slapping isn't a good idea. Here are some good, quick reads recommended by professionals: Plain Talk About Spanking by Jordan Riak, The Sexual Dangers of Spanking Children by Tom Johnson, NO VITAL ORGANS THERE, So They Say by Lesli Taylor M.D. and Adah Maurer Ph.D. Most compelling of all reasons to abandon this worst of all bad habits is the fact that buttock-battering can be unintentional sexual abuse for some children. There is an abundance of educational resources, testimony, documentation, etc available on the subject that can easily be found by doing a little research with the recommended reads-visit www.nospank.net. Just a handful of those helping to raise awareness of why child bottom-slapping isn't a good idea: American Academy of Pediatrics, American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Center For Effective Discipline, Churches' Network For Non-Violence, Nobel Peace Prize recipient Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Parenting In Jesus' Footsteps, Global Initiative To End All Corporal Punishment of Children, United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. In 26 countries, child corporal punishment is prohibited by law (with more in process). In fact, the US was the only UN member that did not ratify the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Child buttock-battering vs. DISCIPLINE:

Child buttock-battering (euphemistically labeled “spanking”,”swatting”,”switching”,”smacking”, “paddling”,or other cute-sounding names) for the purpose of gaining compliance is nothing more than an inherited bad habit.

It’s a good idea for people to take a look at what they are doing, and learn how to DISCIPLINE instead of hit.

I think the reason why television shows like “Supernanny” and “Dr. Phil” are so popular is because that is precisely what many (not all) people are trying to do.

There are several reasons why child bottom-slapping isn’t a good idea. Here are some good, quick reads recommended by professionals:

Plain Talk About Spanking
by Jordan Riak,

The Sexual Dangers of Spanking Children
by Tom Johnson,

NO VITAL ORGANS THERE, So They Say
by Lesli Taylor M.D. and Adah Maurer Ph.D.

Most compelling of all reasons to abandon this worst of all bad habits is the fact that buttock-battering can be unintentional sexual abuse for some children. There is an abundance of educational resources, testimony, documentation, etc available on the subject that can easily be found by doing a little research with the recommended reads-visit http://www.nospank.net.

Just a handful of those helping to raise awareness of why child bottom-slapping isn’t a good idea:

American Academy of Pediatrics,
American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry,
Center For Effective Discipline,
Churches’ Network For Non-Violence,
Nobel Peace Prize recipient Archbishop Desmond Tutu,
Parenting In Jesus’ Footsteps,
Global Initiative To End All Corporal Punishment of Children,
United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.

In 26 countries, child corporal punishment is prohibited by law (with more in process). In fact, the US was the only UN member that did not ratify the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

]]> By: PDeverit http://www.socialworkersspeak.org/cheers-and-jeers/child-discipline-article-disses-credibility-of-social-workers.html#comment-1348 PDeverit Wed, 06 Jan 2010 21:12:08 +0000 http://www.socialworkersspeak.org/?p=1661#comment-1348 Letter of the law or spirit of the law: The vast majority of professionals agree that child buttock-battering isn’t healthy. A marginal few (mostly religious fundamentalists as those at Calvin) think that child bottom-slapping is good. They use the same selective literalist interpretation of the Bible as was used to justify “witch”-burning, depraved torture methods for those accused of sin and heresy, slavery, racism, wife-beating, oppression of women and a host of other social ills. Letter of the law or spirit of the law:
The vast majority of professionals agree that child buttock-battering isn’t healthy. A marginal few (mostly religious fundamentalists as those at Calvin) think that child bottom-slapping is good. They use the same selective literalist interpretation of the Bible as was used to justify “witch”-burning, depraved torture methods for those accused of sin and heresy, slavery, racism, wife-beating, oppression of women and a host of other social ills.

]]> By: J Clark http://www.socialworkersspeak.org/cheers-and-jeers/child-discipline-article-disses-credibility-of-social-workers.html#comment-1339 J Clark Wed, 06 Jan 2010 14:07:31 +0000 http://www.socialworkersspeak.org/?p=1661#comment-1339 Note that article author Thomas McAdam writes as the Louisville Public Policy Examiner, not the Washington Examiner. (Washington is where ya'll are located and it thus appears at the top of the page.) But the jeer is well deserved nonetheless! Note that article author Thomas McAdam writes as the Louisville Public Policy Examiner, not the Washington Examiner. (Washington is where ya’ll are located and it thus appears at the top of the page.) But the jeer is well deserved nonetheless!

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