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?

johnrecover gave this response on 3/6/2000:

The social services departments have jumped on the band wagon with abuse and spanking has become one of the top 10 hit list for families. If a child is disciplined by hand and done so without leaving bruises, welts, marks, etc. then it is abuse and should be reported. I have seen families destroyed over this exact same issue and I agree with this, it is not right. Families should be able to discipline their children without fear of being turned on or their child taken away from them. Hopefully this situation has been resolved and the child understands the chaos that was created by this. This is a problem for those that try to deal with their children and problems in the home. Good luck, John

The average rating for this answer is 5.

Anonymous rated this answer a 5.

I believe that the government should give the children back to the parents. These days parents are afraid to discipline. Parents from my generation have grown up with spankings, so when they say don't spank they are at a loss on what to do, so they do nothing. Which leads to unruly kids acting out in school etc. cause there are no consequences. I believe that if they don't drop this investigation she is going to get a lawyer. She doesn't spank her child often. The teacher got upset cause she said her friend needed a spanking. Then the teacher started asking her questions. Probably leading questions at that... Thank you for your response.