What about considering the following perspective on this issue....
If an adult has to resort to physical punishment of a child, the issue is not with the child but with the incompetency of the adult. It is child abuse. Is the adult that is in control of the child's environment, in a position of power and authority. By hitting the child, the adult is making the child a victim of it's own incompetency and erodes it's authority by doing so. It's easy for adults to justify the violence under the name of "discipline", as if it was the child's failure. It's not. It's the adult's failure in building a secure, rich and respectful environment for the child, where it can grow learning limits and to own the consequences of it's actions.
As an adult, when hitting a child, you are degrading that child, some time scaring him/her for life. Quite likely, they will forget the reason but they will remember your abuse.
The use of the "Love and Logic" approach goes a long way in helping adults become functional parent [loveandlogic.com]
I have to say that with my kids I always saw myself as their role model, where physical "discipline" was certainly not part of it. Proud to say they are now healthy accomplished functional adults with no emotional or physical scars.

Teaching self-discipline, as in behaviors showing respect that make us socially acceptable to others happens best by example. Adults who themselves have not learned this kind of discipline cannot impart it to their children. Discipline is more often meant as correction methods for undesirable behaviors. The more developed a child's ability to reason, the less necessary are physical, cause-effect, corrections . For example, no matter how much affection we show children an.d how distasteful a quick, stern correction might be, toddlers are fast-moving mischief seeking entities. Some of the mischief can endanger health and safety. It is imperative that NO means NO! Stop must mean stop! A playful, running toddler headed for a traffic filled street MUST be obedient enough to stop when told from any distance. At that level, a child who ignores or is resistant to such things can at least understand a firm slap or two through a diapered rump, with a loud, stern warning. That said, physical striking of kids only insults them and causes hostility. We all, especially children, crave acceptance and affection. That is the level at which they can quickly learn the kinds of conduct that achieve those desires. A child being excluded or ostracized from company with others in the family, not with anger, but with clear explanations that when behaviors change they will be welcomed back among others, I think achieves the best results. In terms of give and take, that is also a great principle for encouraging considerate behavior. Giving as a reward on the condition that good behavior continues is more effective than giving as though continued enjoyment is guaranteed regardless of respect shown to others. Consequences ought to be administered with a sense of disappointment and regret and NEVER in a spirit of anger. These are ways to ensure that a child realizes their behavior, something under their control, is the only thing standing between welcoming acceptance; not them personally.

"Whoever spares the rod hates their children, but the one who loves their children is careful to discipline them"-Proverbs 13:24

I spent some years working with kids. I learned that what is paramount is that one take the time to understand how a (particular) child would best understand (instruction, right/wrong etc.) The above bible verse refers to discipline as corporal punishment and is just fucking stupid. You don't need to hurt a child like a lab rat being administered an electric shock to ellicit a certain behavior. Understanding and communication is all that is necessary...

Spanking should be allowed. Discipline and respect for others should be paramount teachings

I don't believe in physical abuse, but children need to be taught manners, respect, and need to be told when they are doing something wrong. If your children can't follow basic "no running in the house", don't jump on people, don't pass out in your food from an opioid addiction " then they and they parents need to leave.

I never, never hit my child. We talk it out. occasionally, a priveledge is lost for a day, but that's rare. Kids love their parents. I think most of them value what their parents say.

Do it.

Every kid is different, as is every parent and situation.
Kids need boundaries, and if they stay within them life is sweet.
I had zero issues with my kids, it was easy. Never had to hit my kids, and never would have, probably a good thing as now they could both whip my arse easily.

It starts with expectations: make your expectations explicitly clear, and the consequences known--and then treat the child as though you expect them to comply. In my experience, you get what you expect. Most of the work then is done.

When you encounter non-compliance, you just calmly stick to what you said you were going to do: follow the plan that you've already laid out, and made known to all parties. Keep your cool. No wavering. Consistency is key.

When I worked at a therapeutic group home for adolescent males, my personal (private) motto was "firm, fair, and respectful". These were kids with ADHD, depression, anger management an impulse control problems, reactive attachment disorder, the stuff of night mares. I found the boys to be mostly compliant and respectful. They knew what that were getting with me: I would not be rattled, manipulated; I would enforce the rules; I would treat them with respect. I wouldn't say they loved me, but I think most of them liked it when I was working. And they pretty much did whatever I said.

I use the same technique with my cousin: I tell you exactly what I want from you--its totally realistic and appropriate--i tell you what the consequences will be for non compliance, and then I treat you with dignity and respect. No shenanigans tolerated--and next to no shenanigans are perpetrated.

I grew up in a very abusive household, I never laid a hand on my kids, it doesn't work

I never hitted my children. Their mother either. Did I got punished as a child? Hell yeah. I was never sent to sleep without dinner as I saw in many american tv families. Discipline to me was corporal punishment. My children never suffered that. Discipline in other ways... yeah. Punishment in other ways... yeah. No corporal punishment I support.

I agree it means "Teaching", and discipline is necessary and should be geared toward teaching. I found with my kids it worked much better, once they were able to connect cause and effect, to show them the natural consequences of their actions, rather than just punishing them. They got an allowance, so when they got older, part of that could be used as sort of a "fine" for unacceptable behavior. By the time they were teenagers, they were all wonderful kids and there wasn't a lot of need for "punishment" at that point.

Discipline your kids how you see fit. People are going to say thing no matter how you discipline your kids

“Discipline” actually means teaching, not punishing, so yes I’m all for it. Every kid needs something different. I didn’t do a lot of punishing but did a lot of talking about making good choices and about consequences. But I was also lucky to have a pretty easy kid, as it goes.

Yes! Just not with violence.