Hi Mark,
-=> On 30 May 97  07:25:00 MARK PROBERT said to ANDREW GRILLET <=-
 AG> JK> I also favor the return of corporal punishment in the school
 AG>system as 
 
 AG>So would I.
 MP> Hmmm, so you favor assault on children. Totally unnecessary assault, I
 MP> may add. 
No. Corporal punishment means punishing the body - and not necessarily
participation in S&M. At my school we were made to run around carrying 
stones. Nobody was ever beaten. 
 MP> There is never an instance of where assaulting a child who
 MP> has  no psychological problems is warranted, unless, of course, where
 MP> the  parent has ben incompetent.
Unfortunately LOADS of parents are incompetent. Some lack ability some 
lack skill. If you have 50,000,000 parents, and 1% are duds, that adds
up to 500,000 dud parents. Think about it.
 MP> And, of course, assaulting a child with psychological problems is the 
 MP> ultimate in cruelty.
 
I would not dispute that.
 MP> A less violent society would be an improvement. I see no direction in 
 MP> your post toward an improved society.
I do not think that the answer to the world's probelms is mass caning 
sessions. However, there are occasions where fear of physical punishment 
IS an effective deterrent to some kids - usually the ones that are 
less able to relate to more intellectual punishments. 
There are also occcasions where intellectual punishment least to more
suffering than physical ones. 
Some parents are incapable of applying an appropriate degree of punishment.
Restricting the scope of punishment can actually worsen this problem. Some
parents are kinky and like beating their kids. I doubt that the law will
stop all of them.
Do not assume that everyone has the same cultural background and skills that
you have, or the same problems. 
I would not consider slapping a kid on the back of the hand with three 
ingers
to be 'assaault', but I would consider locking a four year old in a room for
even a few minutes to be cruel. Others don't agree with me. Even if I pointed
a gun at their heads, they still would not agree. Of course they might SAY 
they agree. Equally, I will probably not agree with people who reply to
me with insults, although I might listen to reason.
We have a major problem in our country with lack of discipline in class. Can 
you suggest practical ways of improving the situation? Reading the Bible is 
NOT an acceptable answer, since the majority are not Christians in this part
of London.
Andrew
 
... Fingers not found - Pound head on keyboard to continue.
--- Blue Wave/Max v2.30 [NR]
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