Corporal punishment teaches a child that it is appropriate to hit someone over whom you have power. It teaches that hitting is a good way to manipulate a person to do what you want. When you are raised that way, it takes effort to straighten your mind out to how that is not a good way to behave. I went through all that. The father of my children was not religious but came from a religious family and wanted me to use corporal punishment on our children for really minor things that I didn't even object to them doing. That was messed up.

Does she base her opinion actual empirical data?

First, when you know better you do better. So I work with my parents to teach them better ways to support their children. Secondly, I am a firm believer that people, all people including children do well if they can. The big piece being IF! When someone is not doing well something is wrong. What are the lagging skills, what is causing them to not do well? Until we start working on those skills all we are doing is harming them. If a child can't read we teach them we don't beat them! If their behavior is not right teach them the skills necessary to behave appropriately.

When I was seeing a therapist for my anger issues back in my 20's, she brought this woman to my attention and suggested I read some of her work. The book For Your Own Good was an eye opener to me about why I was so angry. I was raised by a very angry mother who always used physical punishment with my younger sister and I. I remember the phrase poisonous pedagogy and how it leads to dysfunction in later life. I still struggle at times when I am being hurt by ugly words or someone physically hurting me. That book is one I wish I still had. I gave it away to a small library when I was downsizing my life. I truly believe a lot of what is happening now with many people being so angry and ready to go into rage filled behavior has everything to do with how we are treated as babies and children. Great post for contemplation and discussion.

If you want to learn how to raise a child without corporeal punishment, get a dog and take it to obedience training. You can raise a dog from puppy onward without ever hitting the dog. It will love you and obey your every command (if you learn from a good instructor and do the homework). Well guess what, the same principles apply to child rearing. It works. And you'll do a LOT better job of being a loving parent.

I totally agree. I work hard with the parents of my students to help find other ways to work with their children. The only thing physical violence teaches is physical violence as a way to solve problems.

I haven’t heard of her before, but i’m glad she did this work. hitting is never an acceptable punishment for a child.