Reply #6: A couple of thoughts from TX...

[Mithras61]

1) Corporal punishment is allowed in TX with the proviso that the punishment must fit the offense. Spanking, even by parents, was disallowed for a while here, but recently allowed again (about 3 years ago, as I recall)

2) While the schools in my area are allowed to spank, it is reserved to the principal, and used only as a last resort and only with the written consent of the parent.

3) In my experience, children that are spanked learn that hitting is acceptable as a method for resolving disputes. Unfortunately, the other children learn from the ones that are spanked, and on it goes, so even my children who aren't spanked have learned that they can solve some problems by hitting.

4) The biblical context is "spare the rod & spoil the child." This quote is thrown out more than any other single thing when the debate about corporal punishment comes up. I have even pointed out the the person stating this that children who are spanked are more physically violent, had them agree with me that this was so, and continue to support spanking, because their CHURCH supports it!

I honestly don't know what it will take to stop the physical abuse of our children, but so long as the Southern Baptists weild influence, it likely won't happen.