Anonymous asked this question on 3/6/2000:

Hi,

I want an opinion from the experts in this category. If someone chooses to spank their child for discipline, do you think they should have their child taken away from them by social services? I have a friend who disciplines her child with spanking. Her child went to school one day and told a teacher that she gets spanked. The next day social services were at her door, they had her under investigation for months. They told her if she spanks and/or yells at her child it is abuse and they will come back and take this child from her. That child loves her mother and she is a good mom. She provides for her and nutures her fully. They are very close and this would distroy this child.

Do you think this is right?

Et72558 gave this response on 3/12/2000:

I feel in these days and times,it is very hard to be a parent. You should have the right to dicipline your children as you see fit. (Not taking spanking to an extreme)My parent's raised four children who all turned out as well adjusted adults. (And they did not "spare the rod").I do believe there is a fine line between spanking and abuse, and we must be careful not to cross that line. Giving a toddler a swat on the behind to teach an important lesson is one thing. Any other action could be another. I believe it is important for the parents to be able to decide on the dicipline for their children, as long as they are always in control of their action's, and their objective is to teach, not punish. I wholeheartedly believe in protecting our children from abuse, but also feel it's become too easy to be accused of child abuse these days because your views might not be the same as someone else's.