Would you sign this form from the local school?

[Salty]

What does this school seek permission for?

 

[JonC]

Yep...I'd sign it. Actually, I think that I did sign one a few years ago when my son was in elementary school. Haven't seen one in awhile - so they probably don't do it anymore here.

 

[saturneptune]

Yes, I would sign it in the affirmative. Then after they got a spanking at school, part 2 would come at home. I was never one to take the "side" of one of my kids and undermine the teacher's authority. Bravo to the school district.

 

[pinoybaptist]

I'd ask what form of corporal punishment ? If it were something I, myself, would administer to an errant child at home, why, yes, go on with it. But if it were something I wouldn't think of doing to my child, like a hard whack on anywhere else but the fleshy part God created for whacking, then, hell, no.

While the concern of the parent in the article is understandable, I think she represents part of the problem why today's children seem to have a hard time respecting authority.

 

[thisnumbersdisconnected]

This woman is a fruitcake, equating corporal punishment with child abuse. These forms have been around for decades. I signed one in the affirmative for my kids in the 90s, and my parents signed them for me and my brother in the affirmative back in the 60s.

(PS: If I were her, I'd keep that childish handwriting hidden as much as possible.)

 

[saturneptune]

I'd ask what form of corporal punishment ? If it were something I, myself, would administer to an errant child at home, why, yes, go on with it. But if it were something I wouldn't think of doing to my child, like a hard whack on anywhere else but the fleshy part God created for whacking, then, hell, no.

While the concern of the parent in the article is understandable, I think she represents part of the problem why today's children seem to have a hard time respecting authority.

I grew up in Mississippi in the 50s and 60s, and was a very obnoxious kid, in trouble all the time for one thing or another. Teachers always used good judgment in paddling. It was only enough to get the point across. There was no abuse, no belts. Lets look at another example of today vs then on the subject of behavior on the school bus. In today's society, if a student is unruly the bus driver must fill out a slip, and the school will kick him off the bus, usually for three days. Back when I grew up, if you started your crap on the bus, the driver would stop the bus, kick your butt off, and you could walk to school or home, even if it was miles. It put a stop to it, for sure.

 

[Salty]

If her kids misbehave - will she complain if she has to come to the school and take them home?

 

[Gina B]

I'd be more concerned with the form being a way for the school to have written, signed proof of who likely spanks at home, with a box checked and the parent signature on it, to turn all those parents in to be investigated for child abuse by their local children's services agency.

Our state says a parent can spank their children for discipline, including switching. However, leaving a mark is considered child abuse, so I'm not sure how using a switch is NOT going to leave any mark. Sure did when I was a kid. They also tend to change their minds a lot if you talk to different people who are supposed to be able to judge the matter and say what is and is not considered something you are required to get a report number on. One might say anything that the kid says is uncomfortable (even power sitting) while another sticks with the black and white of the law. That's what is scary - a lot of what is considered child abuse is largely up to the mindset of whoever they send knocking to go investigate.

Would I sign it? My kids are basically grown, but let me think. Hrm. No. If my kids did anything bad enough to call for that, you need to be calling me and I'd get down there. I'm the parent, it's my job to take care of it.

 

[InTheLight]

I'm lazy, I'm not even going to click on the link.

 

[go2church]

Nope. Have same form for our school district.

 

[thisnumbersdisconnected]

I'd be more concerned with the form being a way for the school to have written, signed proof of who likely spanks at home, with a box checked and the parent signature on it, to turn all those parents in to be investigated for child abuse by their local children's services agency.

I think that highly unlikely.

Our state says a parent can spank their children for discipline, including switching. However, leaving a mark is considered child abuse, so I'm not sure how using a switch is NOT going to leave any mark.

Switches are less likely to leave a mark than the bare hand. I'm amazed at all the people on here who seem to think by "switch," a tree trunk is meant. A switch is a willowy, thin branch of a plant or tree, and isn't intended to physically hurt. It is intended to get to the child emotionally.

Sure did when I was a kid.

Either your memory is tricking you and making you think it left a mark, or your parents/grandparents/whoever used a tree trunk instead of a switch.

They also tend to change their minds a lot if you talk to different people who are supposed to be able to judge the matter and say what is and is not considered something you are required to get a report number on. One might say anything that the kid says is uncomfortable (even power sitting) while another sticks with the black and white of the law. That's what is scary - a lot of what is considered child abuse is largely up to the mindset of whoever they send knocking to go investigate.

Which mindset is influenced by the nutballs who think spanking or corporal punishment is "child abuse."

Would I sign it? My kids are basically grown, but let me think. Hrm. No. If my kids did anything bad enough to call for that, you need to be calling me and I'd get down there. I'm the parent, it's my job to take care of it.

I realize your kids are grown, but I'll bet you didn't get reports of misbehavior from them or the school when they were that age, did you?

 

[Gib]

Doh! I got my first and last paddling from the Leeds School System a long time ago. Not sure if my parents signed a form though.

 

[Revmitchell]

I grew up going to the tree in the back yard and getting a switch for my Grandmother. I can assure you that will always leave a mark.

My personal belief is that using your bare hand to spank is wrong. This is because when you reach for your children they need to know if your intentions are to spank them or not. If you use the same thing to spank as you do to hug this can be a problem especially for younger kids.

My rule was one to three licks with a paddle made of wood that has some width to it but solid. I would always send them to their room for at least 5 minutes before hand.

Never discipline while angry regardless if it will be a spanking or just a verbal correction. Even it it means waiting until the next day. Abuse can be both physical and verbal and one is just as bad as the other.

I am not prone to abuse either way but I always wanted to have checks on what I do so as not to get tempted.

 

[Gina B]

I grew up going to the tree in the back yard and getting a switch for my Grandmother. I can assure you that will always leave a mark.

Yep. This may explain why fall is my favorite season. It was much easier to hold out the driest, most shabby stick you could find and try to insist the green ones must have all dried out, and if that didn't work, at least bought more time when you were sent to go find a real one.

 

[JonC]

One lesson that lasts a lifetime is learning that the little skinny switches are far worse than the big intimidating ones.

 

[pinoybaptist]

I grew up in Mississippi in the 50s and 60s, and was a very obnoxious kid, in trouble all the time for one thing or another. Teachers always used good judgment in paddling. It was only enough to get the point across. There was no abuse, no belts. Lets look at another example of today vs then on the subject of behavior on the school bus. In today's society, if a student is unruly the bus driver must fill out a slip, and the school will kick him off the bus, usually for three days. Back when I grew up, if you started your crap on the bus, the driver would stop the bus, kick your butt off, and you could walk to school or home, even if it was miles. It put a stop to it, for sure.

back in my time erasers and chalks flew every which way across the rooms and boinked the talkatives, the gossips, and the cheats. if you were caught copying during exams you got a sign across your neck you carried in the halls for three days. I don't know how many times a teacher whacked me on the palms with a wooden ruler for breaking rules on copying (I'm lazy when it comes to Literature) and letting others copy my answers in Trig (I liked Math in High School).
To top it all, my folks made me kneel on salt whenever I came home preceded by the Guidance Officer for fighting in class. Then while playing High School basketball in the Philippine version of the NCAA we all had to stand feet together, arms spread out, palms up, with five books on each hand, for a full hour, for getting into a rumble with the other team in court during a game.
Man, if they did that today, most schools would be in trouble.
And I guess the lack of discipline among kids and mindsets similar to the lady in this article is the reason very few want to go into the teaching profession anymore especially in what is called inner cities.
Yup, back in the day, discipline was administered both in school, and at home.
Was it effective ?
I don't really know.
What I do know is that respect for authority seemed to be stronger back in those days.

 

[Rippon]

I was a very obnoxious kid, in trouble all the time for one thing or another.

It's evident that you haven't changed at all!