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From the Chalkboard: Discipline under siege
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Anonymous user Tue Nov 30, 1999 00:00:00 PST
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0 responses 0 comments For many years now, educators have been forbidden to physically discipline a child at school. In fact, teachers are continually reminded not to even touch a student except to protect another student or for self protection.
Well, guess what? The state legislature is at it again.  As if there weren’t enough state issues to contend with, a new bill coming down the pike is reaching into your family’s home.
Assemblywoman Sally Lieber, a Mountain View Democrat, is preparing new legislation that would prohibit parents from spanking their own children. The bill she is drafting will be broadly written, she explains, making striking a child a crime punishable by up to a year in jail or a fine of $1,000.
What better authority than Ms. Lieber, who has never had children of her own and no experience whatsoever in child-rearing? However, she explains, she does have a cat named Snoop which she apparently puts in “time out” for clawing the furniture or for poopy problems.
Even before she presents her bill, the idea is fraught with problems encountering much skepticism, even from her peers in the legislature. The bill, as it is currently being drafted, is concerned only with children age 3 and under. Since disciplinary actions usually take place in the privacy of the home, it is doubtful that a child 3 or younger will be likely to call 911 or Child Protective Services.
Assuming a gifted child could make such a call, what then? Haul mom and dad off to the pokey? Send the kids to foster care or some other state agency where they will receive more “humane” treatment?
It seems to me that California legislators need to spend their time addressing the serious issues facing Californians instead of cranking out laws that criminalize law-abiding citizens.
One can only wonder where such thinking will ultimately lead us. I suppose it’s just a matter of time before the first “time out” victim is reported, or a doctor is fined for bringing a life into the word with a slap on the fanny. Maybe we can just wait until our kids are 4 years old and then make up for lost time.
I’m sure most of my generation received physical correction in our growing-up years. It taught us appropriate behavior, and we grew up understanding the boundaries of acceptable behavior. When we broke rules at school and received correction, it was usually reinforced at home.  We didn’t grow up to be abusive adults with warped personalities, but we did learn to behave and respect authority, unlike many of today’s undisciplined young people, who know little of civility or respectful behavior.
The debate over corporal punishment continues to rage, with “experts” on both sides in disagreement. An observation of today’s youth culture would certainly dictate that more discipline rather than less is in order.
Admittedly, there are instances of parental abuse, and there are current laws that already exist to deal with these situations. It is disingenuous to throw terms around like “child-beating” and “child-abuse.” It is called a spanking. I think all rational people understand the difference.
By the way, spanking is also highly recommended in the Book of Proverbs. But, the Bible was expelled from the public square years ago.
We certainly do not need the state to hold our hand. We are very capable of training and correcting our children without its help.
Ms. Lieber, if you are concerned about the safety of children, maybe you could spend some time drafting legislation to protect our unborn. They could certainly use your help.

E-mail Dick at: derris@bakersfieldfirst.com
Agree with Dick that physical correction is sometimes necessary? Disagree? Voice your opinion by commenting on this column.

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