Spare the Rod, Spoil the Child Essay Example

fields of medicine, psychology, sociology and education. Research in these fields have shown that the more children are spanked, the more likely they are to engage in antisocial behavior such as lying, stealing, cheating and bullying. Moreover, they also tend to act aggressively towards others and develop mental health problems such as depression and suicidality when punishments become too severe.

Do parents really want to see the children, whom they have painstakingly nurtured, suffering from such mental and emotional trauma? Of course not!Parents wish the best for their children and seeing them in such a state is never their intention. However, such things do happen when the intensity and frequency of punishments go overboard and sometimes, parents themselves do not realise the intensity of their punishments. Thus, spanking should in no way be encouraged due to such potential dangers. However, some might feel that spanking is justified as it has existed for centuries as a form of discipline. I strongly believe that, the fact that parents have employed spanking for thousands of years does not make it right.Many barbaric punishments, too, were once accepted in society such as the thumbscrew, the rack and burning at the stake.

These punishments have ceased to be accepted due to the realization of their violent and extremely inhumane methods. In the same way, the fact that spanking has recently been condemned by many countries suggests that there has been a realization that it is unacceptable as its negative effects clearly outweigh the positive implications. Thus, the fact that spanking has existed for centuries does not justify it, in any way, as an effective form of discipline.In conclusion, I would

disagree to the proverb, “Spare the rod, spoil the child. ” Spanking has many negative side effects that inflict physical, emotional and psychological pain on the child. Furthermore, spanking is effective in preventing the child from misbehaving only in the short term as the child fears being hurt repeatedly.

However, when the fear slowly fades away in the long term, the child would not hesitate as much to misbehave. What then, does spanking teach the child?It teaches them that it is alright to hit if we disagree and that it is alright to hit if we are bigger in size. The child might eventually end up hitting his peers and others smaller than him as he thinks it is alright since his parents hit him too. Many parents, not bothering about the negative consequences, spank because it is the easy way out. This should not be the case.

They should instead focus on good parenting which involves modeling good behavior, praising good behavior, being available for their children, teaching them, loving them and not accepting bad behavior.