From the Courts

Who is responsible for discipline in our society. Many people might say the judicial system. Surely however the family is society's most important disciplinary institution. Discipline is an important part of the development of a person's character from childhood to maturity. Society appears to be intent on eroding the position of the family. Two airy-fairy minded psychologists from Hamilton are trying to get the law changed. They want the law exempting parents and teachers from assault charges if they hit children to be repealed. The law restricts such punishment to 'reasonable force.'

The two Psychologists say that parents and teachers can't hit each other but they can hit a child who can't defend him/herself. They say the rule of law allowing such punishment is outdated and teaches the child that "might is right'. No doubt there is a reasonable case for both sides. It appears to me however that physical punishment of a reasonable and moderate nature is the most productive form of punishment. It teaches a child that it has done wrong and does not involve drawn out punishments such as being shut in a room which may have for worse mental ramifications than being smacked.

The pschologists say that physical punishment leads to wife and child beatings and other violent offending. Surely such offences only result from the failures of society, and children and wives are the victims of frustrated violent outbursts.

Physical punishment should be part of a planned, programme of character development. It should not be indiscriminate but it should not be done away with. Physical punishment should be seriously considered for mature offenders especially violent offender. The incredible savagery associated with assaults, rapes and like crimes, warrants an appropriately savage punishment.

I do not advocate legalised thuggery by the police and their associates. Nor do I advocate random use of physical punishment with children. However it has it's place in any disciplinary system. It should be associated with affection and responsibility in the family anyway.

The psychologists say that such punishment is heavily used by families in New Zealand and this is probably true. If the family went back to responsibly bringing up perhaps there would be no need for any suggestion of physical punishment from the courts.

If this law is repealed we may well live to regret it with Courts over-worked with violent and undisciplined criminals in the future nor do we want a society full of walking zombies hammered into the groove of unquestioning obedience. What we want surely is a society where people have a realistic sense of civic duty where we can bring up our children in a normal responsible manner.

Chris Conway.