Want a hot ethical topic to discuss? A Democratic assemblywoman from Mountain View, California, intends to introduce a bill that makes it a misdemeanor to spank a child three years old and under. Penalties could include child-rearing classes for offenders to one year in jail. This bill has already drawn national attention.
Good idea? Don't be bashful. I know you have an opinion on this one.
Update: Jennifer Roback Morse has a column on the spanking issue. She writes,
“Professor Robert Larzelere, who has studied child discipline for 30 years, said his research shows spanking is fine, as long as it's used sparingly and doesn't escalate to abuse. “If it's used in a limited way,'' the Oklahoma State University professor said, “it can be more effective than almost any other type of punishment.'' He added that children 18 months old or younger shouldn't be spanked at all, because they can't understand why it's happening. As for Lieber's proposal, the professor said: ``I think this proposal is not just a step too far, it's a leap too far. At least from a scientific perspective there really isn't any research to support the idea that this would make things better for children.''
Morse makes the case that not spanking can do greater harm than two swats on a covered bottom.