Pop Science BS on Spanking

Article: Early Spankings Make for Aggressive Toddlers, Study Shows

Remarks and Opinions:

- I in no way wish to appear to advocate the "spanking" of a one year old. No person should ever hit a child in anger. However, correctve "taps" may be necessary in some cases.

- But what is the main problem with this bit of pop science? It does not take into account that a child that is already aggressive may be more likely to encounter some sort of corrective discipline. The study assumes children come into this world blank lumps of clay to be molded and that is stupid.

- "Less is known why spanking could inhibit cognitive development. One possibility is that parents who spank are less likely to use reasoning with their children, something that's good for development," Gershoff said. There again the pop science attempts to establish A causes B without actually proving B wasn't there to begin with and may result in greater frustration by a parent. (And again, let me make clear, frustration by a parent does not excuse mistreating a child. Never react to a child's behavior because of your own state of mind.)

- But BullShit Pop Science should not be used to prevent a parent from teaching a child right from wrong with a mix of talking and proper discipline. There are times a young child needs to be tapped. There are times when an older child may deserve a spanking.

- Probably the most troubling part of the pop science bullshit is that it automatically labels aggressive behavior as totally undesirable. Is it really desirable to raise a child in a virtually empty room where they will not get in trouble and abandon them in front of a TV Set in that room. That may be the proper way to raise a non aggressive child to behave as a couch potato in the classroom but is that really what any parent or educator wants???

- Of course there needs to be balance in everything. But it is much better for a parent to teach a child right from wrong with discipline, using which ever method that works best for that child, than for that child to grow up to be a statistic in America's Prison System.

In a classroom where the school is not allowed to physically punish children, the alternative is usually having to call the law in to take the troubled child away. That is the path where the "don't ever spank" mentality leads. That is the real world and not some mindless pie in the sky Pop Science Study.

Both the article and the so called study are biased to an opinion that is not proven. Again, let me make clear, I am not advocating use of spanking as a first resort. It should never be the first resort. But any study that would suggest to a parent that they should never spank a child or in anyway equate that with child abuse is pop science that is outside the realm of reality. A parent who allows their children to run totally wild are not only guilty of child abuse but society abuse.