More from the Socialist School of Childrearing

Published on November 21, 2005 By Gideon MacLeish In Current Events

Up on yahoo news' headline list is an article on a study that shows that spanked children are more likely to be aggressive. There are a whole lot of variables, of course, NOT explained in the context of the study.

I have strong reservations about spanking. I believe it is sometimes appropriate for younger children, although rarely the best choice of discipline for older children (I believe the end result of any disciplinary action should be to teach the child the desired behavior, and spanking doesn't usually cut the mustard...but I digress). I do, however, know many parents who have a spanking policy that is much more liberal than our own and whose children turned out fine.

The problem with studies such as this, though, is that all too often government officials take it and run with it without ever seeing the hard data that produced the study or evaluating individual situations. "Spanking bad" is their mantra, and they become insistent on enforcing their philosophy of discipline on EVERYONE, even though the topic itself is debatable. Almost every parent I know lives in mortal fear of slapping or spanking their children in a public place because they know that the end result may well be a visit from a government official and a complete vetting of their lives and lifestyle choices.

The thing about an opinion is that it is just that: an OPINION. While this study may wisely advise parents against using spanking as a PRIMARY form of discipline, there are those who will tend to throw the baby out with the bathwater. Sorry, if my toddler touches the woodstove, his hand's getting smacked. Otherwise these same officials will be demanding that I explain why I didn't prevent my child from the severe burns he suffered, implying neglect on my part. It is a no win situation.

One of the reasons I write on these sorts of topics is that I long for a return to common sense. That's not a liberal issue or a conservative issue, it's a PEOPLE issue. Government should never be something that we fear, but rather an agent to maintain order and defend our standard of living. Sadly, though, popular thought seems to be headed in the opposite direction.

Comments

Dr Guy

on Nov 21, 2005

Actually, this is a clear case of a study putting the cart before the horse.

First, the study does not examine over all home life. Other studies have suggested that the children of aggressive children are more likely to be aggressive. So are the parents disciplining? Or just being aggressive with their children. That is clearly not addressed and is a bigger factor than this one.

Second, the study suggests a link, but does not show a 1-1 or even close to 1-1 correlation. They asked one question. Simply put the Study was flawed from the beginning.

So before they spout this stupidity (stupidity in the sense that they did no home work, or at least the article does not indicate any), they should admit their pre-study bias.

To be fair, they should take a control group, monitor the actions and home behaviour of the parents, then take a control group with the same home life and study them to see if there is a propensity among the children.

Studies like this are less than useless. They are merely done to promote an agenda. nothing more.

Gideon MacLeish

on Nov 22, 2005

What's sad is that I'm dubbed a paranoiac, despite the fact that I have documented REAL violations of civil liberties by the people who fund these studies and use them to their advantage.

stevendedalus

on Nov 23, 2005

One of the reasons I write on these sorts of topics is that I long for a return to common sense. That's not a liberal issue or a conservative issue, it's a PEOPLE issue. Agreed. But why refer to it as socialist as though it were leftist?

stevendedalus

on Nov 23, 2005

Studies like this are less than useless. They are merely done to promote an agenda. nothing more.

How right you are!

Gideon MacLeish

on Nov 23, 2005

But why refer to it as socialist as though it were leftist?

Is socialist truly left, though? Do you want to be hung out there with the Maos, the Guevaras, the Stalins, when you are far more moderate? The idea of a child being state property, as expressed in the control that the state exercises over the poor using studies like this as "proof" is one that is inextricably linked with the concept of socialism as put into practice in modern societies

You do bring up a valid point, though, but you must also remember that (sad, but true) the title often must be sensational in order to have the article READ. And I believe this article expressed a point that deserved to be "put out there" for public consumption.

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