University Wire, 18 May 1999

Column

Children still need old-fashioned spankings

(The Reflector ) (U-WIRE) MISSISSIPPI STATE, Miss. -- As I was watching television back home recently, I saw something very interesting on VH1. The interesting thing that I saw was "The Jacksons: An American Dream." Of course, there were many interesting things about this movie, but one particular scene sticks out in my mind.

At one point, and it really doesn't matter which, I witnessed Marlon Jackson receive the butt-whuppin' of his young life. He screwed up on some dance number and as a punishment was forced to go out and pick the switch from which he was to receive his beating. Now, as Tito, Jermaine and I looked on helplessly, something occurred to me . . . I do not entirely disagree with corporal punishment as a means of child discipline. I am not saying that I agree with beatings, slapping or any other form of child abuse. However, I do believe in spanking because there is a difference. A beating hurts a child's body, but a spanking just hurts the child's feelings a little bit.

Just imagine the difference and benefits of a good, old fashioned spanking. What if we had a corporal punishment policy here at Mississippi State? I think that would eventually cut down on the campus crime. If there was a spanking policy set forth by the administration, all of the campus crime reports would read like this: "2:43 a.m. Two students were arrested by MSU Police and charged with public drunkenness. Students were referred to the dean of students and given a proper drubbing." Problem solved. I am thankful that my parents spanked me. I turned out OK. I know that a lot of you future "yuppies" out there may take issue with my stance, but I'm not really worried about you. As far as I'm concerned, you can just put down the Dr. Spock, take one last sip from your martini glass and drive the kids to soccer practice.

For those of you who have never been on the business side of a belt, let me relate a spanking story to you. Once, when I was a kid, I cut all of my sister's hair off. It was beautiful, curly and so blond that it was almost white.

It was still white, but my Dad didn't understand that when he noticed that it was all gone. Her hair was shorter than mine and my parents didn't want to take her out in public anymore. The spanking I got for that wasn't just a spanking. It was legendary.

But spanking doesn't have to be a mindless chore. You can make it creative. Once, when my sister got in trouble, my Mom told her to go to her room and wait. My sister, a creative sort, put a book in the seat of her pants. I wasn't in the room, but when my Mom hit the book with her hand, it sounded like it hurt. "Just for that," my Mom said, "I'm gonna spank you harder."

My Mom was creative also. When my little brother would act up, she would tell him to go get the belt and bring it to her. "Get the black one," she would say. "It hurts more." My parents weren't bad people. They were just employing a child-rearing technique that has been working for parents for centuries before Oprah ever had her first show. They weren't concerned with remembering their spirit, they just wanted us to behave.

(C) 1999 The Reflector via U-WIRE

Oklahoman Online, 26 May 1999

Senate Gets Behind Paddling Proposal

After some recalled the benefits of the whippings they got as kids, state senators voted 39-6 for a bill reminding parents they still can spank, paddle or switch their children.

Sen. Frank Shurden said he wrote Senate Bill 768 so parents would know they still can discipline their children by spanking, paddling or whipping them with a switch.

Shurden, D-Henryetta, decided to do this after the recent killings at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colo., he told senators.

Sen. Bruce Price, D-Hinton, supported the bill, saying, "We do not want children abused nor do we want government to interfere in those family matters involving discipline."

Sen. Dave Herbert, D-Midwest City, said his father was a highway patrol trooper who sometimes spanked his children when they got out of line.

Herbert said he sometimes preferred a whipping to a chewing out by his dad, which "was worse than a spanking."

"There's an art to spanking. Part of the art is to explain why," Herbert said.

Shurden's language allowing spanking, paddling and switching was inserted in a state child-abuse statute. This same language is found elsewhere in state law, he said.

Sen. Bernest Cain, D-Oklahoma City, argued Shurden's bill was the wrong message for parents who abuse their children and was a slap at Department of Human Services employees who deal with child abuse.

Las Vegas Sun, Nevada, 28 May 1999

Nevada Senate approves spanking bill

Majority Leader Bill Raggio, R-Reno, said the bill doesn't allow child abuse or neglect. But it does permit parents to use spanking to discipline a child.

In justifying the bill, Raggio cited a recent escalation in youth violence and gang activity, causing "grief, destruction and terror."

"There is a fear by parents who should be in a position to deal with reasonable discipline," Raggio said. "They have rebellious kids who say 'If you touch me, I will turn you into the cops or I will sue you.' "

At the same time, Raggio said he would not argue with child psychologists who say a parent should never lay a hand on their child.

If a parent is turned in to authorities for spanking or swatting a child, an inquiry will be held. But if the discipline is determined to be reasonable, any record the incident would be expunged.

Senate Minority Leader Dina Titus, D-Las Vegas, said she did not agree with the portion of the bill which would eliminate any record of the incident. She suggested repeated spanking could point to a serious problem.

Sen. Ray Rawson, R-Las Vegas, said spankings don't equate with child abuse. He said child abuse comes when a youngster is thrown against a wall or his legs are broken. In those cases, the records should be kept. But spanking, he said, "is a case of proper discipline."

Raggio said he patterned the bill after similar legislation in Oklahoma which was passed two days ago.

He said he "would not assign all the blame" to parents for recent school shootings in Colorado, Arkansas, Oregon and other states. But he added, "If you don't instill authority at home, it will never be instilled at school."

He noted that several years ago teachers were given the authority for corporal punishment. That authority was later removed.

The bill, approved 17-3, goes to the Assembly.

Las Vegas Review-Journal, Nevada, 31 May 1999

Spanking bill completes swift passage through Legislature

CARSON CITY -- A bill that makes it clear in Nevada law that parents can spank their children was passed 24-17 Sunday after a loud debate among Assembly members.

Because the Senate passed Senate Majority Leader Bill Raggio's Senate Bill 553 on a 17-3 vote Friday, the bill goes to Gov. Kenny Guinn for his approval or veto.

The swift passage of the emergency measure from introduction to final voting in just two days clearly shows the power of Raggio, R-Reno, the six-time majority leader.

As majority leader, Raggio may request as many as five special bills after the Feb. 8 deadline.

"This doesn't mean everybody should spank their children," Raggio said, adding he requested the bill because many parents are afraid to discipline their children. "They need to know the law does not prohibit them from administering an old-fashioned spanking when necessary."

The bill also states that child protective agencies must expunge from records any reference to a parent who was cleared of child abuse charges after an investigation.

In the Assembly debate, 10 of the 17 women opposed the bill, while 14 of the 24 men favored the spanking legislation.

Noting she is nine months pregnant, Assemblywoman Barbara Buckley said the debate provided a good look at approaches to parenting.

But she said she is a stepmother of a 9-year-old who never has been spanked, and he is a well-behaved child.

"There are a lot of people who think when a child sasses them back that they can smack him or kick him," said Buckley, D-Las Vegas.

Assemblywoman Chris Giunchigliani, D-Las Vegas, said she no longer supports corporal punishment.

"Violence begets violence," she said.

But Assemblyman Morse Arberry, D-North Las Vegas, said he has spanked his 2-year-old daughter. He said the bill is necessary to bring balance.

"The pendulum has swung so far to the right that parents are afraid to spank their children."

Raggio, 72, said he has thought about proposing the spanking bill since he was Washoe County district attorney in the 1960s. He said his bill is adopted from an Oklahoma law.

"Too many kids thumb their nose at their parents and say if you touch me I will call the police or I will sue you," he said. "You still can't engage in child abuse but we should let parents know they can spank their own kids. Kids no longer have respect for authority."

He added he used a small paddle to spank his own children "in a very nice manner."