Introduction
This study is aimed at evaluating the use of corporal punishment as an instrument for correcting children both by parents and teachers. The use of corporal punishment by parents is meant to instill discipline. The teachers used it to as a primary discipline method. The study also reveals the methods that can be used to eliminate corporal punishment.
The study, however, is going to deliberate itself on kids of age 1-3 years. It tries to forecast o the behavioral change of the child at later years by sampling out opinions from parents who have had kids of these ages and did practiced spanking and corporal punishment on them. It gives analysis of the aggression level, level of self esteem and how they comply after they receive the punishment.
The interviews and observation confirms that the right of children was abused. The results are discussed in family level, educational and theoretical implication.
Literature Review
The use of spanking or corporal punishment as a means of correcting children haws sparked lots of discussion amongst family practitioners and researchers. There are a lot of reasons that dictate the motivation of using corporal punishment (Day et al, 1998). This can heighten or lower the consistency of using spanking by parents. It is important to note that future characteristics of a child are determined by level of parents’ economy, education, and norms of culture. Parental and child characteristics, gender and age also are important in determining the child’s future characteristics. For instance, educated parents have an upper hand in upbringing of their children. They always have alternative methods of instilling discipline to their children. This is attributed by incomparable level of personal self control and maturity. These cumulatively lower the use spanking by parents (Day et al, 1998).
Corporal punishment refers to the acts of using force that is physical intended to cause the children to undergo pain with sole reason to correct their behavior (Day et al, 1998). However this should not translate to injury.
The findings from many family researchers show that most parents have at one point in their parental life spanked on their children. This research shows that; in the United States 91 % of parents are reported to have spanked on their children (Pamela et al, 1999).
Family researchers have found out that spanking is mostly used with young children. The prevalence and sternness of it mostly decline as children grow up. This usually is up to between the ages of 8-10. However, this act is more common in the ages between 1 and 3 years. The main reason being-: the frustration of parents.
My focus is to examine the long term effects on the children’s’ characteristics. It is also going to include the outcomes that are short term and that it can point out the use of corporal punishment by their parents.
As a result of general believe by parents that use of corporal punishment and spanking are not injurious and that it is appropriate way of instilling discipline in children, my study undertakes to examine the negative impacts on children who constantly are subjected to corporal punishment. This is in comparison to those who rarely or have been through corporal punishment early in their life between 1-3 years. The psychological effects such as little or no cooperation with others, low self esteem, less social competence , poor grades in school and heighten level of aggression are the resultant negative effects that kids that kids are subjected to spanking at the age of 1 to 3(Pamela et al 1999).
Research shows that most of the parents continue to disregard the negative effects that arise as a result of spanking on their kids. It shows that parents who still regard spanking as a way of instilling discipline are linked with the practice. The most common advantages of spanking are-: promoting obedience in the instantaneous circumstances, dissuades any misbehavior in the long term, teaches, and instills discipline (Cameron, 2006).
The idea of abolishment of corporal punishment is supported by UNCRC. They have discouraged any harmful behavior by the parents in parenting their children. The act violates their poise, or it contravenes equality and justice. This is contrary to the traditional view of the society of a family. It focuses on the child in a family and does not take the general view of the family (UNICEF, 2009).
However in the Jewish religious law and Canadian secular law allow the use of corporal punishment. This is on the condition that it is reasonable and moderate. The laws do not permit only the parents but also the teachers.
The factors to consider while administering the corporal punishment include-: the age of the child- children above the age of fifteen years should not be hit; how ready is the child to learn from the disciplining and his acknowledgement of the punishment; the amount of force applied and beating severity is it on the parts of the body that are sensitive, for instance head should not be hit, kicked or strangled; and the pasting should not be carried out by using an instrument or tool but rather with an open hand (Day et al 1998).
The law strikes a balance between child’s interest on one hand teachers’, parents’ and states’ interest on the other hand. This presents an opportunity to discipline a student or child free of any criminalization. It outlines the conditions, which if not contravened, thwarts enforcements that are arbitrary. The main objective being-: that of education (Cameron, 2006).
The law also warns against using corporal punishment for children below the age of six. It only applies to children who are between 6-13 years. The punishment is ineffective for teenagers. In addition this should be carried out on apt children who can correct their mistakes. The law also warns against use of threats and that the punishment should be instant.
The program narrative
My study is going to concentrate more on a relationship that can be observed and traced to the future life of the kids. It brings out the relationship between the kids and corporal punishment and how this can impact on their future sense of worth and belligerence level. The study begins by sampling comments of parents who at one point used corporal punishment on their kids. This will majorly be between 1-3 years (Day et al, 1998).
I also undertake to carry out an investigation on the relationship that exists between individual spanking reports and kids and their impacts. This will be short-term positive and negative outcomes on their behavior. My forecast is that parents who spanked on their children of age 1-3, chances are that they have kids with low self esteem and high level of aggression compared with children who did not receive corporal punishment at a specified age. My second assumption is for girls and boys who were corporally punished in their tender ages. It is almost certain that their future sense of self worth is comparable. However, the belligerence of boys is greater than that of girls.
Method
Participants:
My study will involve the use of 40 families who at least are parenting a kid between 1-3 years. The reason is that this is the peak age of spanking. These families have their kinds in middle ages.
Research analysis
In the day of my study I visited a manufacturing firm, churches and in the streets. I also used reports from family research organizations and schools. My target was both in full time and part time employees. My target was to sample a report from 40 families. This could either be mother of the kid or father. The report would treat either as a representative of a family.
study
Spanked children
(Measured in adulthood)
Children not spanked
(Measured in Adulthood)
Size of the effect % target female children
No of families
Immediate compliance
Low self esteem
High self esteem
In the analysis above done on the first day of my study I undertook to investigate the immediate compliance of the kid after a beating, the aggression level, and level of self esteem.
In this study 25 fathers are between the age of 26-47 years, 10 are above 47 years, and 5are are below 26 years. 24 families are white, 8 African Americans, 4 Hispanics and 4 Asian Americans. Nearly all the fathers are employed. A majority of their women worked either part time or full time outside their home.
Goals, Objectives, and Evaluation
My research is on evaluating the long term effects on children’ characteristic as well as the overall short term outcomes that can be observed as indicators of using corporal punishment by the parents. The reason being that many parents still believe that use of corporal punishment and spanking is not harmful to the children and that it is the apt way of instilling discipline. My study evaluates the negative impacts on children that constantly are subjected to corporal punishment in their tender ages of 1-3 years. The psychological effects such as little or no cooperation with others, low self esteem, less social competence , poor grades in school and heighten level of aggression are the resultant negative effects that kids that kids are subjected to spanking at the age of 1 to 3( Pamela et all 1999).
Conclusion
According to the findings it is evident that incidents of corporal punishments are prevalent in families that the parents have low level of education, ethnic minorities, and problems in most families. These causes are also the major causes of indiscipline in learning institutions. It is this that has led to rise of corporal punishments (Cameron, 2006).
It is also important that behavior of children is monitored. Therefore it is important that parents are counseled on how to check on indicators that lead to children misbehaving. This will lock out the idea of subjecting children to corporal punishment or spanking. For instance in Turkey courses on special education are inculcated in the teaching curriculum for teachers. This enables them to learn skills on how to monitor the behavior of children.
It is also paramount to establish sports and arts centers as a tool to impart the people with knowledge on how to carry themselves in the society and also to improve in their manner of instilling discipline to their children. This is because it is important for students to have social skills to assist them in their interaction. This will also motivate them in their endeavors. Motivation both in school and at home can be redirected by way of example and explanation. It is crucial that children be given positive guidelines and taught the right behavior.
It is my proposal that corporal punishment and spanking be abolished as ways of instilling discipline. Parents and teachers should team up in coming up with strategies on how to identify negative behaviors in children and in turn find the best solution of correcting them.
References:
Cameron, M. (2006). Managing school discipline and implications for school social workers: a review of literature. National Association of Social Workers, , 28(4), 219- 228.
Day, R. D., Gary, M. W., & Coleen. (1998). Predicting Spanking of Younger and Older Children by Mothers and Fathers. Journal of Marriage and Family , 60, 79-94.
Holden, G. W., Miller, P. C., & Harris, S. D. (1999). The Instrumental Side of Corporal Punishment Program: Parents' Reported Practices and Outcome Expectancies. Journal of Marriage and Family , 4, 908-919.
UNICEF 2009. (2009). Convention on the rights of the child. Retrieved 04 01, 2012, from unicef web site on Convention on the rights of the child: http://www.unicef.org/crc/.
