Essay On The Pros And Cons Of Corporal Punishment

The debate surrounding the ethical practice of corporal punishment is a long one. For years, parents, as well as teachers, have argued whether or not they should physically punish children. By definition, corporal punishment is “physical pain inflicted on the bodies of a child as a penalty for disapproved behavior” (Dupper & Montgomery Dingus, 2008). This includes the use of any intentional methods such as hitting, spanking, paddling, exercise drills, painful body postures, and even electric shock. These methods usually end in injuries such as welts, blood blisters, severe bruising, hematomas, and broken blood clots (Dupper et al, 2008). In the Victorian Era, parents believed their child’s laziness and inability to obey them alienated the child from God. So teachers were deemed ideal for guiding children away from ignorance and sin (Dupper et al, 2008). Since then, teachers have been the only ones allowed, by law, to administer this form

Also, the evidence for why it should not be used is more factual based than the evidence for why it should be used. However, there will always be parents who still believe corporal punishment is for the good of the child. Children who are subjected to this form of punishment tend to project violence towards others because they view that as an acceptable form of behavior. In their minds, they do not see violence toward their peers any different than their parents physically punishing them. This cycle continues because when the children reaches adulthood, he or she will use corporal punishment on his or her child. This violence steadily contributes to the violence in our society. This violence also justifies inhumane treatment of other human beings. The only way to stop the violence in our society is to stop our mistreatment of children. If we consider physical violence towards other adults wrong and illegal, physical violence towards children should be illegal