Mom arrested for washing out child's mouth with soap

[Derek Ortt]

I went to a catholic school for kindergarten and there was corporal punishment there

One girl who went to the principle every day was spanked in front of the entire class by the principal. Personally, I think a good spanking about once a week is good for a child (as they usually misbehave at least once during a week as they are growing up)
now, laughing at them after receiving the punishment, like the parents did in this case... another issue entirely. As I said, this is not an Ortt prison camp

So you are in favor of spanking to prevent misbehavior rather than as a consequence to misbehavior?

No, you misunderstood what I said

I said kids usually misbehave at least once a week. Thus, a good weekly spanking for all of their "offenses" during the week may be good. It gives them a set time where they will be accountable for what they have done wrong, and gives them a goal for the week... that is to behave and avoid the spanking

[Derek Ortt]

I went to a catholic school for kindergarten and there was corporal punishment there

One girl who went to the principle every day was spanked in front of the entire class by the principal. Personally, I think a good spanking about once a week is good for a child (as they usually misbehave at least once during a week as they are growing up)

now, laughing at them after receiving the punishment, like the parents did in this case... another issue entirely. As I said, this is not an Ortt prison camp

What did this girl do to get sent to the principal's office everyday?

well... she wouldn't do as she was told, constantly talking during class, would not sit still. All of this after repeated warnings each and every day. She was spanking for hitting another student. She behaved after that, and after the teacher threatened to send her not the the principal, but to the priest and I remember the teacher telling her "even the 3rd graders are afraid of him"

[Dionne]

I went to a catholic school for kindergarten and there was corporal punishment there

One girl who went to the principle every day was spanked in front of the entire class by the principal. Personally, I think a good spanking about once a week is good for a child (as they usually misbehave at least once during a week as they are growing up)

now, laughing at them after receiving the punishment, like the parents did in this case... another issue entirely. As I said, this is not an Ortt prison camp

I couldn't disagree more with a "good spanking about once a week".

Do you have any children?

[Derek Ortt]

I went to a catholic school for kindergarten and there was corporal punishment there

One girl who went to the principle every day was spanked in front of the entire class by the principal. Personally, I think a good spanking about once a week is good for a child (as they usually misbehave at least once during a week as they are growing up)

now, laughing at them after receiving the punishment, like the parents did in this case... another issue entirely. As I said, this is not an Ortt prison camp

I couldn't disagree more with a "good spanking about once a week".

Do you have any children?

not yet, but I do have a 7 year old brother and I have seen how unruly he is (won't get into details of course... but he has had some major discipline problems).

What I was trying to say was instead of taking them behind the woodshed immediately when the misbehave (unless it is something very serious), I would keep a log of infractions, sit down with them at the end of the week, explain exactly what it is they did wrong and explain why they are receiving their punishment, and what they can do the next week to avoid it

[Dionne]

Parenting involves quite a bit more than keeping "a log of infractions" and subsequent punishment. I believe that children are inherently good. My experience is that if you have a problem child.....first look at the parents.

Physical punishment as a form of discipline is equivalent to a well aimed shot in the foot. The thought of a "loving parent" sticking a bar of soap in a child's mouth absolutely disgusts me.

I'm going to opt out of this thread.....it's to upsetting.

[artist]

Parenting involves quite a bit more than keeping "a log of infractions" and subsequent punishment. I believe that children are inherently good. My experience is that if you have a problem child.....first look at the parents.

Physical punishment as a form of discipline is equivalent to a well aimed shot in the foot. The thought of a "loving parent" sticking a bar of soap in a child's mouth absolutely disgusts me.

I'm going to opt out of this thread.....it's to upsetting.

Dionne, I don't think that is always the case. I have 2 sons that were different as night and day, only 2 years apart. One easy, the other not. The oldest one who is now in his 20's came to me about a year ago and said, "mom, I was a devil child, how did you put up with it?" I laughed, and just told him, no, you were just strong minded is all. But during the time, I didn't know from one day to the next whether we would get through it. His brother always told me he learned from his big brother what NOT to do. I think kids can have different personalities and have to be disciplined differently sometimes.

[O Town]

I think kids can have different personalities and have to be disciplined differently sometimes.

BINGO!!!!
With 3 myself I can attest to this. One all I have to do is look at them a certain way, the other two are a bit more hard headed and need more at times. But you also try to make it somewhat the same so it seems fair. The boundaries need to be clear and what ever discipline you use you need to follow through with it. I honestly don't think a little soap in the mouth is really that bad of a thing. I never have had it done to me, and I never to my kids but its not an unheard of form of discipline, just a little dated.