Extra Mile Family Media

So, I have been asking the question, is spanking in Pennsylvania legal or against the law. Here are some of the answers I was given. When I asked Lancaster Family Children and Youth they said that spanking "with an open hand" is not against the law in PA even if your boyfriend did the spanking. Boyfriend? it's ok if the boyfriend did the spanking? Apparently the answer was a resounding yes "if the mother gave him permission" Huh? what if the Father didn't? If Dad is not the custodial parent then he would have to take the mother to court and tell it to the Judge. OK I said, "Is it against the law to hit a child with a wooden spoon"? The answer was "yes".

Stragely enough though, earlier this year I read a legal brief however that showed a Judge ruled that even though a father paddled his child and left brusies as well as splits in the skin that this was not abuse!

Huh! Either someone in this state needs to answer to curruption charges or the people  who call the shots here are completely FUBAR. How can it be against the law to spank with a wooden spoon but not illegal to beat your child with a paddle and cause briuses and tissue damage (e.g. lascerations).

This really stinks of "Hey, I make the rules up as I go!" I think the legislature in this state has quite a bit of catching up to do to arrive in the 21st century.

Why is it so hard to get a straight answer to a question that is such a tender subject to parents?

Can anyone answer this? Leave your thoughts with us in this debate, what do you think?

BTW here is one straight answer I can give you for sure. If the parent is in court and expresses that he or she does not want anyone to discipline their child except for strictly the parents the Judges will almost always order this wish to be honored and it will become a part of the custody order. That is Good News! Maybe not earth shattering but it is still good to know.

In one of my recent Google sessions where I research family related articles, I came across a very interesting post in a secular forum. A question about spanking our children was asked on the website (Yahoo Answers) by the user: "Due June 18 =)"

What does the Bible say about spanking your children? And what are some verses that explain this. I personally don't believe that spanking your child is right, but I have heard that it is biblical. Also, do you believe in spanking your children, if so, why?

The answer, I thought, was quite enlightening. I had never thought of it this way before and as I read the answer I had to agree with "scotgirl60", to a degree. She made a very valid argument which I found very helpful to myself since I have been wondering the same thing as "Due June 18 =)". I felt this was important enough to share here for you, the reader…

The "rod" was not meant to hit children. Compare "Spare the rod and spoil the child" to the passage which says "Thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me."

The rod and the staff used by the shepherds were used to guide sheep along the path– and THAT is the meaning of "Spare the rod and spoil the child." It was not intended to exhort parents to hit their children.

I am against corporal punishment. It is never necessary. There are always better ways to discipline (which means "teach") your children. People who spank their children fail, each and every time they do it. They are saying, I love you, but I'm going to hit you to show you how much.

Does any parent who hits their child truly believe that Jesus would EVER hit a child….?

Positive reinforcement works much better than negative reinforcement.

However, I do note that the Bible does advocate spanking, but it is only ONE method a parent should use in the process of behavior modification for their children. Spanking is not the end all be all in child discipline, too many parents resort to spanking as the absolute answer to behavior modification. Personally I feel it should only be a last resort and by all means, THE RIGHT TO SPANK A CHILD SHOULD RESIDE ONLY WITH THE PARENTS.

I caution you to NEVER let ANYONE else spank your children, especially your significant other (e.g. Your Boyfriend or Girlfriend). This is not only highly inappropriate, as it may cause the child to become confused, but it is very dangerous for your child as well. Most adults will not use the same restraint, when spanking someone elses child, which they might employ when spanking their own child. I have seen many child abuse cases that could have been avoided by NOT LETTING the Boyfriend / Girlfriend spank someone elses child.

Also, far too many parents often allow themselves to administer physical discipline when they are angry! This is where it can get dangerously out of control and lead to child abuse and in some cases I have read about, death… In my opinion, if you are not able to administer physical discipline correctly, with Love and Restraint, then you should not consider it as an option, period.

Read the article below to see what I mean:

Question: "How should Christians discipline their children? What does the Bible say?"

Answer: How to best discipline children can be difficult a task to learn, but it is crucially important. Some claim that physical discipline (corporal punishment) such as spanking is the only method the Bible supports. Others insist that “time-outs” and other punishments that do not involve physical discipline are far more effective. What does the Bible say? The Bible teaches that physical discipline is appropriate, beneficial, and necessary.

Do not misunderstand—we are by no means advocating child abuse. A child should never be disciplined physically to the extent that it causes actual physical damage. According to the Bible, though, the appropriate and restrained physical discipline of children is a good thing and contributes to the well-being and correct upbringing of the child…

Read the rest of this article on got Questions.org