Smacking should not be banned.
Topic Sentence
Number the
evidence
Technique and purpose
Smacking is an effective form of discipline, and can
lead to positive changes in behaviour..
Appeal to leadership; appeal to
responsibility.
Smacking helps parents set boundaries. We will
breed a generation of spoilt brats if children are not
smacked.
Appeal to moral values and leadership; shaming those who do not
use effective discipline; appeal to
logic
Use of common sense; appeal to
emotional wellbeing; reassure
parents.
Smacking does not traumatise children or make them
more violent. (It must be done in a carefully controlled way that does not jeopardize trust between
parents and children.)
Clearly, any law attempting to ban smacking would
be unenforceable. There would be unnecessary costs
and intrusion.
Appeal to common sense
Parents have legal authority and responsibility in
raising their children, so they should have the freedom to choose the best method of discipline.
Appeal to law and order; appeal
to (the parents’) civil liberties
Case study
1
David advocates smacking for young
children. He gives his young 3-yearold daughter an occasional smack
when she is being defiant or mean to
her sister. He noticed a big change in
his daughter’s behavior with a few
smacks, or the threat of smacking. He
believes that it is difficult to reason
with young children.“Kids at that age
just don’t have the cognitive ability to
rationalize” . . .
“We believe that human beings are
innately sinful. Kids need to be taught
to be good, [whereas] they don’t need
to be taught to be naughty.”
Evidently, most parents wish to
retain the right to smack their children as a last resort. 75% of the respondents to a survey in The Age approved
of smacking naughty children. Around 70 per cent of parents will
smack their children at some point during their childhood.
Parents use as their defence the fact that it is
“reasonable chastisement”.
If done in a careful and
controlled way, smacking does not
jeopardize trust between parents and children.
Smacking helps to reinforce situations of extreme danger. what if they are about to run onto the road or
turn on the hot water tap? 2
3
Dr Michael Carr
Gregg, leading child psychologist also agrees quoting that ‘I don’t think we
should be criminalising people, who when their
children run across the road they give
them a tap on the backside’’.
4
The Presbyterian
Church has told a state parliamentary enquiry that dumping the common-law
right to smack children could undermine the rights of
parents to use “physical discipline from time
to time” on their kids.
5
A recent lifestyle
survey of teenagers’ attitudes
revealed that 50 to 60% of teenagers have
their own way at home and in fact dictate life
leaving parents helpless and
powerless.
6
Mr Bill Mulhenberg
states that “most parents know, that
a smack done in love, as a last resort, is often
the most loving thing they can do. It is part of
parental control”.
7
Place the issue in context. Outline your main contention and support reasons.
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Firstly, parents have legal authority and responsibility in raising their children, so why can’t
they have the freedom to choose their disciplinary tools, without the government interfering.
(Include a reference to the survey)
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Furthermore, smacking helps parents set boundaries and can lead to positive changes in
behaviour. (Refer to a real-life example as well as the psychologist’s comments.)
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Opponents state that parents must set an example to children and show them that violence is not
an effective way to solve conflict. (However ... How can we criticise this view? Perhaps, comment on
the fact that it is not a matter of consistently using violence, but an occasional smack as a last resort
because .... we don’t want spoilt brats.
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Conclusion: (leave the reader with a firm impression that yours is the most important viewpoint.
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21
Don’t ban
smacking
Recently, Dr Chaney, head of Australia’s paediatric body, called for a ban preventing parents
from smacking their own children. At the moment, smacking is currently legal provided that
it is reasonable. A recent survey suggestse that
parents wish to retain what should be a parent’s
right to choose the best method of discpline for
their child. After all they must set boundaries,
especially in situations of danger. Above all, it
is up to parents to set the rules and ensure that
children are respectful, thoughtful and decent.
Firstly, parents have legal authority and
responsibility in raising their children, so
why can’t they have the freedom to choose
their disciplinary tools, without having
the government interfering. As long as the form of disciplinary action is justified and does not leave any
permanent harm both physically or emotionally then a light smack is acceptable. This is not to advocate a
three-foot long garden cane to forcefully whack a 4 year old boy to his knees until he is begging for forgiveness. Most parents have their child’s best interests at heart. Obviously much depends upon the circumstance
and factors such as their age, reasoning capacity and the nature of the offence itself.
Secondly, smacking helps parents set boundaries and can lead to positive changes in behaviour. Often,
children lack the ability to reason at such an early age, especially in situations of danger. Dr Michael Carr
Gregg, leading child psychologist agrees that “we should (not) be criminalising people, in situations where
children run across the road they give them a tap on the backside’’. However, smacking should only remain
as a sort of last resort option in a dire situation or even when all other forms are not working.
Clearly, any law attempting to ban smacking would simply be unenforceable. There would be unecessary costs associated with the ban and very little benefits. For the slightest of taps, child protection agencies
will have to intervene to assess the conditions. Trials will then have to be held to persecute every parent for
every one of these so-called ‘“crimes’’. In addition, cases will not have any material evidence. The closest
thing is a scar or a bruise on the child but even these can fade away over time. And punishment becomes
very subjective, relying on people’s different opinions. In the end, it is generally the child’s word against
their parents. Ultimately, we cannot know for sure whether the parent is actually wrong or whether the child
is exaggerating and passing off a light tap as a massive assault.
Opponents state that parents must set an example to children and show them that violence is not an
effective way to solve conflict. However, this may be the case where smacking gets out of control and
parents consistently use consist excessive force. It should only be an option where the child is in danger or
is particularly resistant. After all, we do not want to breed a generation of spoilt brats Imagine them having
a tantrum or bursting into tears whenever they don’t get to watch their favourite episode of Pokemon on TV
or when they cannot buy MarioKart 7 to play on their DS. A recent lifestyle survey of teenagers’ attitudes revealed that 50 to 60% of teenagers have their own way at home and in fact dictate life leaving parents helpless and powerless. Parents need to be able to establish their authority as long as they do not lose control.
Overall, it is the parent who must raise their child, not the state. So why condemn them for trying to raise
their children into respectable and well disciplined adults? Parents wish to retain the right to smack their
children for good reason - sometimes it is absolutely necessary. Where it does lead to positive changes in
behaviour then a smack can set welcome boundaries and protect children from danger.