Corperal punishment in history?

Question

You know that today, there is a debate about whether parents should be allowed to spank their children; and the older people always sa to the kids "Your lucky you weren't around when I was a lad, they beat you with a cane".

Well back then, their fathers beat them with cane while saying "Your lucky you weren't around in my day, they beat you with a crow bar". This in 1890

In 1890, these people's fathers then siad "Your lucky you weren't around in my day, they beat you with a spirit level when you was just 5 months old in 1850".

Back in 1850, the father said "Your lucky you weren't around in my day, they beat you with a steel girder when you were still in the uterus, back in 1810.

In 1810, they beat people so hard that people even had saw bottoms in thier next life reincarnation.

It gets worse and worse and worse.

What do you think?

Snow Man

Answer 1

Thankfully parents are not using spanking nowadays because we are more educated about the development of children and use more positive, respectful techniques.

Answer 2

Those are myths.  I have studied the history of childhood, and I can say that there has been great variation across time periods and cultures in the use of corporal punishment.  In some places and periods, for example, renaissance Europe, children were highly valued and were cared for very gently, at least among the upper classes. In colonial America, using a stick or strap for punishment was not unusual.  Native Americans in general valued children highly and viewed them as community responsibility; I'm pretty sure physical punishment was uncommon.  But there has been a trend toward less and less corporal punishment overall and greater recognition of children's rights.  When I was a kid, it was legal for a teacher to spank a child.  Now it is not.  Parents are doing it less and less.  I, for one, think this is a very good thing.  I would like to see it disappear entirely.

Answer 3

Depends on the place.  In some places if you disrespect a parent you are killed or stoned to death.  Is this right? Absolutely not! People get on my nerves talking about what people should do to discipline children.  I have 4 children at home and each one of them is different.  I can not punish one the same as another.