Gilroy
– Steffi Arbues has no children, but she believes that parents
should find another way to discipline their child rather than spank
them. She agrees that there should be legislation prohibiting
parents from spanking their children who are younger than 4.
Gilroy – Steffi Arbues has no children, but she believes that parents should find another way to discipline their child rather than spank them. She agrees that there should be legislation prohibiting parents from spanking their children who are younger than 4.
“When I see parents spanking their children I don’t like it,” said the 17-year-old Gilroy resident. “There’s another way to discipline them.”
Parents might just need to find that other way. Under proposed legislation due to be introduced next week in Sacramento, California parents would face jail time and a fine for spanking children younger than 4. This also includes anyone who is in control of a child.
The bill is being authored by Assemblywoman Sally Lieber, (D-Mountain View), who said such a law is needed because spanking victimizes helpless children and breeds violence in society.
“The current law is unclear in terms of limits on disciplining children physically,” said Lieber who is married and has no children. “(Spanking) is not effective because infants and toddlers don’t understand physical punishment it just doesn’t work.”
Psychologists such as M.J. Conner of Monterey believes it would be a waste of resources to impose such a law.
“It’s basically unenforceable. It would be a waste of the courts’ time and a waste of money,” said Conner, who watched an interview with Lieber on NBC’s Today Show Tuesday morning.
Conner is not the only one who sees this law as unenforceable. Barry Goldman-Hall has been a family therapist for 30 years. He is also a parent and a clinical director for Community Solutions in Morgan Hill.
“I don’t think we should have laws against spanking; we already have clear laws in California that distinguish the two,” said Goldman-Hall referring to abuse versus discipline.
California law currently permits spanking by parents unless the degree of force is excessive or not appropriate for the child’s age.
“I think if we burden the Child Protective Services with chasing after parents for spanking their kids, that will overwhelm that whole system,” Goldman-Hall said. “It’s already an overburdened system.”
Time and money issues are not the only concerns that arose with this legislation proposal.
“It’s not something that the government should be involved with,” said Conner.
The proposed legislation intersects religious teachings by legislating how a parent should discipline his or her child, said Mark Turner, outreach pastor at South Valley Community Church in Gilroy.
“I am one who believes in spanking,” Turner said. “I spanked my children, and when people do it with the right intent there aren’t any issues with it. If its done in a loving way, and if the child knows it’s for a proper reason.”
He quoted Proverbs. 13:24 that states: “He who spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is careful who disciplines him.” However, he mentioned that people can abuse this verse.
“I don’t think spanking is abuse, but it can become that. If someone disciplines out of anger,” Turner said. “Parents can properly discipline their children without using physical discipline, but sometimes it is necessary.”
But more than discipline, Turner believes that the issue is more about keeping politics out of a family and letting parents raise their children appropriately.
“If that legislation were to pass, that would be something we would all regret,” he said. “The question is what’s next? What is the next thing that they would want to legislate?”
