Do parents have right to smack their child?
Government settopasslaw againsthitting
Scotland is to become the first part of the UK to introduce an outright ban on the physical punishment of children.
The Scottish Government said it would ensure that a member’s bill became law after John Finnie, the justice spokesman for the Scottish Greens, proposed giving children the same legal protection as adults.
So the Reformer headed out onto the streets of Rutherglen to ask parents if they agreed a ban should be put in place.
Duncan Downie from Cambuslang said: “I don’t see a slap on the hand being too much harm. I feel it depends on the child.
“I’ve had three children and you had to keep one of them in order more than the other two.”
Frances McNally from Blairbeth was undecided and commented: “I’m in between. It depends on the adult but there are other ways to handle children.
“If you shout at them they might not listen, you might need to bribe them somehow.”
Cambuslang’s Kevin Monaghan said: “I’m against a ban. I think you have a right as a parent to decide how to control your kids.
“I’m not saying you need to really hurt them but it will depend on the situation. You need to be able to control them somehow.”
Bridget Linton, of Rutherglen, believed it was time the Scottish Government stepped in.
She added: “I agree with it [the ban]. In this day and age I think you need to stop that.
“There are other ways to discipline kids like taking their iPad off them.”
I don’t see a slap on the hand too much harm. It depends on the child. Duncan Downie