Doing away with a smack not all bad

It’s no surprise that some parents have already reacted with anger at the news that the Constitutional Court has banned corporal punishment of children by adults at home. They believe that the court – and indeed any arm of the state – should not be allowed to intrude on what are private matters … and giving your child a smack is considered by many to be a private matter, as long as it does not constitute violent abuse.

The issue is one of the most emotive facing society today and one can quite clearly see the generational lines being drawn.

Older folk will say they were physically chastised when they were children and that experience not only reinforced their sense of right and wrong, but also instilled discipline and respect for others. They will say they suffered no long-term ills, either.

On the other hand, younger people and supporters of the ban say the world is no longer the place it was.

Children, despite their age, should enjoy the same basic human rights as any other human being – including freedom from assault. It is also said, correctly, that violence breeds violence and the continuation of corporal punishment in the home is one of the reasons we have such a violent society.

The question is what to use to replace physical force when disciplining children? Some people have suggested strategies like withholding treats or privileges. That is certainly a good idea – but we worry that a parent who is no longer allowed to smack might resort to verbal and emotional abuse instead.

That sort of psychological punishment could leave long-lasting scars on young children; scars which will forever change the course of their lives.

On balance, though, we are better, and more moral, as a society if we outlaw the use of violence on our most defenceless members.