Woman Charged with Felony for Spanking her Child

[carpro]

http://www.volunteertv.com/national/headlines/Mom_pleads_guilty_to_spanking_own_child_124072014.html

Judge has harsh words for Mom before sentencing her for spanking her kid

Rosalina Gonzales had pleaded guilty to a felony charge of injury to a child for what prosecutors had described as a "pretty simple, straightforward spanking case." They noted she didn't use a belt or leave any bruises, just some red marks.

Posted: 11:28 AM Jun 17, 2011

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas (CBS) -- A judge in Corpus Christi, Texas had some harsh words for a mother charged with spanking her own child before sentencing her to probation.

"You don't spank children today," said Judge Jose Longoria.

 

[jaigner]

This is a pretty strange case. I agree that spanking can easily become clear-cut abuse, but it wouldn't appear, if there weren't any bruises, that it had reached that point.

 

[Arbo]

I suspect that there's more to this than what's reported.

 

[preacher4truth]

This is a pretty strange case. I agree that spanking can easily become clear-cut abuse, but it wouldn't appear, if there weren't any bruises, that it had reached that point.

Sounds like that judges Daddy needed to spank him a lot more, and a lot harder. :thumbsup:

 

[mandym]

http://www.volunteertv.com/national/headlines/Mom_pleads_guilty_to_spanking_own_child_124072014.html

Judge has harsh words for Mom before sentencing her for spanking her kid

Rosalina Gonzales had pleaded guilty to a felony charge of injury to a child for what prosecutors had described as a "pretty simple, straightforward spanking case." They noted she didn't use a belt or leave any bruises, just some red marks.

Posted: 11:28 AM Jun 17, 2011

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas (CBS) -- A judge in Corpus Christi, Texas had some harsh words for a mother charged with spanking her own child before sentencing her to probation.

"You don't spank children today," said Judge Jose Longoria.

Uh, yes you should and yes we do.

 

[jaigner]

Uh, yes you should and yes we do.

Why "should" you spank children? And please don't use the "spare the rod..." argument, which is without theological or interpretive integrity.

I'm not necessarily against it completely, but as one who was spanked only as a way for a mom to relieve her frustration, I can definitely say there are better forms of discipline.

And as a public school educator, I'm glad that we've reached a point at which we've realized this in general and are recognizing that children have civil rights and that they don't give them up at any point.

Spanking should, if used at all, be reserved for only the most extreme cases. And even then, it shouldn't be done in a degrading, inhumane or abusive way.

 

[billwald]

Sounds like she had no legal advise or her lawyer made a deal. She should have talked to the ACLU.

 

[Salty]

Why "should" you spank children? And please don't use the "spare the rod..." argument, which is without theological or interpretive integrity.

Because it is effective!

Spanking should, if used at all, be reserved for only the most extreme cases. And even then, it shouldn't be done in a degrading, inhumane or abusive way.

I do tend to agree with with you - key word is abusive.
Besides when you spare the rod, you spoil the child.

 

[annsni]

To leave a red mark that long means a very hard spanking.

I had a time that I was in the doctor's office with my recently weaned 12 month old (she self weaned - we should have known she was strong willed then!!) and she was in just her little diaper waiting for the doctor to come into the exam room. We were playing and I gave her a hug - and she bit down HARD on my breast...and wouldn't let go. I yelped and tried to pull her off but she thought it was great and had a bite like a pit bull. My instinct was to slap her thigh to get her to cry and get her off and that's exactly what happened. So now I have a crying baby with quite a red handprint on her thigh and the doctor walked in. I was so embarrassed by this and had to explain what happened because of the handprint and as I was telling him, he grabbed some gauze because apparently, she bit hard enough to break the skin and I had blood on my shirt. He had to clean the wound and bandage it for me and he said "I'm not surprised you slapped her!" Whew!!

But the red mark was completely gone by the time we walked out of that office. To have a red mark last long enough for a grandmother to see and then for that grandmother to take the child to the hospital - and for the red mark to still be there when the doctors took a look means more than a typical spanking on a 2 year old.

However, spanking is now not politically correct and everyone wants to say how horrible it is. I disagree fully. I think a judicial spanking along with other discipline tools is quite effective and can bring about correction and repentance better than other methods at times.

 

[jaigner]

Because it is effective!

It's effective as behavior control, which is most certainly not the fundamental goal of discipline. It has little effect on heart change.

Besides when you spare the rod, you spoil the child.

#1 - That saying isn't in the Bible.
#2 - When the Bible does talk about the rod, it means the rod of guidance, as in "Thy rod and Thy staff" (pardon the King James, unfortunately, much of my memorization is in KJV). It most certainly does not mean "you should hit your kids when they're bad or they'll grow up to be bad." That's simply misguided exegesis.

 

[Jon-Marc]

I agree with a simple spanking to let a child know he/she has done wrong, but the severe beatings I got were definitely abuse--or would be in today's society.

 

[freeatlast]

Red marks or even bruises do not necessarily constitute abuse. My bible calls for a club to be used. What we are seeing is the liberal agenda is gaining ground to take away our rights and turn us into a socialist country. If more children were disciplined with punishment that hurt I am convinced that there would be less crime and the schools would be safer for the teachers, but why should anyone believe the bible when they have it their way?

 

[Jkdbuck76]

Red marks or even bruises do not necessarily constitute abuse. My bible calls for a club to be used. What we are seeing is the liberal agenda is gaining ground to take away our rights and turn us into a socialist country. If more children were disciplined with punishment that hurt I am convinced that there would be less crime and the schools would be safer for the teachers, but why should anyone believe the bible when they have it their way?

Or maybe if we took clubs to the deadbeat and no-count DADS that have abandoned their children, there would be less crime. While I think "letting the board of education meet the seat of knowledge" is OK, it isn't the only thing.

The family has been under attack since Eden. When you pop a kid on the behind, it should be to get their attention. Then the correction has to happen. And not all kids respond the same.

You know what worked for me? Grounding me from my pocket watches! My folks reached a point where swatting my behind was no longer effective. But since I had an obsession with watches as a kid, Mom would threaten to ground me from my watches (a digital wrist watch, a pocket watch with a broken face and glow in the dark numbers, and one silver colored Wesclox pocket watch). It was actually pretty effective.

Now my wife is one who thinks spanking is not effective--but that is because she doesn't hit hard enough to let our son know she means business (I don't know if she can't or she won't) AND she's been indoctrinated by the liberals/Dr. Spock worshipers.

 

[freeatlast]

Or maybe if we took clubs to the deadbeat and no-count DADS that have abandoned their children, there would be less crime. While I think "letting the board of education meet the seat of knowledge" is OK, it isn't the only thing.

The family has been under attack since Eden. When you pop a kid on the behind, it should be to get their attention. Then the correction has to happen. And not all kids respond the same.

You know what worked for me? Grounding me from my pocket watches! My folks reached a point where swatting my behind was no longer effective. But since I had an obsession with watches as a kid, Mom would threaten to ground me from my watches (a digital wrist watch, a pocket watch with a broken face and glow in the dark numbers, and one silver colored Wesclox pocket watch). It was actually pretty effective.

Now my wife is one who thinks spanking is not effective--but that is because she doesn't hit hard enough to let our son know she means business (I don't know if she can't or she won't) AND she's been indoctrinated by the liberals/Dr. Spock worshipers.

Dead beat dad's come from dead beat parents who have not exercised proper biblical discipline and teachings. I realize that many people think the have better standards and ways to raise children then those the Lord laid out, but in the end the children are the losers as well as society.

 

[annsni]

It's effective as behavior control, which is most certainly not the fundamental goal of discipline. It has little effect on heart change.



#1 - That saying isn't in the Bible.
#2 - When the Bible does talk about the rod, it means the rod of guidance, as in "Thy rod and Thy staff" (pardon the King James, unfortunately, much of my memorization is in KJV). It most certainly does not mean "you should hit your kids when they're bad or they'll grow up to be bad." That's simply misguided exegesis.

Actually, I'd not say that the "rod" means guidance in most cases when you read the word in the context of the sentence. I DO use the "rod" (or in my case, a wooden spoon" as a "guidance tool" but it's applied to the flesh of the person to do so.

 

[StefanM]

It's effective as behavior control, which is most certainly not the fundamental goal of discipline. It has little effect on heart change.

Behavior control is necessary for safety. My three year old simply does not respond consistently to any form of discipline other than spanking. Scolding never works. Time-out works only occasionally.

I do not like spanking at all, but I have reluctantly incorporated it into our family's discipline methods because we cannot run the risk of disobedience. When our child runs from his mother in a public place, that's not safe. When he attempts to climb on things in our house, that's not safe.

Having incorporated spanking into our discipline routine, we have noticed some improvement. Even the threat of spanking is often effective. This is particularly helpful in public scenarios, as we can advise him that if he misbehaves, he will receive a spanking. He tends to be more compliant in these cases.

Heart change is a great thing, but due to the limitations on a young child's cognitive abilities, behavior control may need to be the main focus in the early years.

 

[revmwc]

Sounds like she had no legal advise or her lawyer made a deal. She should have talked to the ACLU.

ACLU would have gotten a prison sentence.

 

[revmwc]

Applying the Board of Education to the Seat of learning has straightened out many disruptive children.
Spanking some just brings more bad behaviour. Each and every child is different and each needs a different form of punishment to discipline them. I know some a spanking straightens out others it has no effective, time out works good for some but not others.
It depends on the child and the severity of the disobeince.
Of course the bible tells us what to do with an unruly and rebellious child, in the Duetermony 21:18 If a man have a stubborn and rebellious son, which will not obey the voice of his father, or the voice of his mother, and that, when they have chastened him, will not hearken unto them:
19 Then shall his father and his mother lay hold on him, and bring him out unto the elders of his city, and unto the gate of his place;
20 And they shall say unto the elders of his city, This our son is stubborn and rebellious, he will not obey our voice; he is a glutton, and a drunkard.
21 And all the men of his city shall stone him with stones, that he die: so shalt thou put evil away from among you; and all Israel shall hear, and fear.

Or of course we could use the rod of correction.
Of course Solomon also advised us:
Proverbs 22:15 Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.

Proverbs 23:12 Apply thine heart unto instruction, and thine ears to the words of knowledge.
13 Withhold not correction from the child: for if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die.
14Thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from hell.

af course the KJV says beat him with a rod but we should never beat a child, maybe He meant to beat the Hebrew means to to smite, strike, beat, scourge, clap, applaud, give a thrust virtually a spanking. Sounds like biblical instruction is to apply the board of education to the seat of learning to bring correction, or you can let the Government take of the punishment. If you correct them when they're in the play pen you won't have to visit them in the state pen.
Or you can follow the Dueteronomy passage and let :tonofbricks: be cast upon them.

 

[mandym]

Spanking has a great and large influence on a heart change. It works to give humility in the child. It is not just about consequences.

 

[SBCPreacher]

Proverbs 23:12 Apply thine heart unto instruction, and thine ears to the words of knowledge.
13 Withhold not correction from the child: for if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die.
14Thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from hell.

You beat me to it. Children need discipline - both affirmation for good and punishment for bad. All around us we see the results of a generation whose parents believed that nonsense about not spanking your children.