SIMON Calvert enters the debate on the proposed ban on smacking by arguing that it is "unwanted, un-evidenced, and hugely problematic" ("Why MSPs must dump the smacking ban proposal", Agenda, The Herald, March 20). In the same issue, we find that Mr Calvert has a perhaps unexpected ally in Rev Richard Ross, of the Free Church Continuing – that fount of fundamentalist guidance – who claims that a smacking ban would be an "open attack on the authority of God and smash the very foundation of Scottish society" ("MSPS told smacking ban is ‘attack on God’s authority’", The Herald, March 19). He cites in support Proverbs chapter 22, Verse 15 which tells us that "Foolishness is bound in the heart of the child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him." He does not clarify whether the "rod" is conveniently metaphorical, or whether parents should also have licence to use rods or other implements to enforce their will.
Rev Ross also omits to mention Verse 6 in the same chapter: "Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old, he will not depart from it", reflecting the common pick ‘n’ mix approach of those who quote Biblical guidance. For this is the crux of the matter: children learn from their parents, for better or worse, and if we smack them, should we be surprised if they smack us back, or seek to control other children by smacking and hitting? There is ample evidence that this is what happens, from years of research on behavioural modelling, and our wider society is not getting any less violent.
I don’t pretend that the issues are anything other than complex, but I don’t believe that Scottish society’s very foundations are rooted in parental freedom to smack. I do believe it is incumbent on critics of this proposal to make positive suggestions as to how parents may be encouraged to avoid physical and violent solutions to situations of conflict, so that their children do not mimic their responses and perpetuate the unfortunate cycle of physical and fundamentally aggressive means of control.
Dr Angus Macmillan,
Georgetown Road, Dumfries.
I STRONGLY disagree with Kirsty Strickland's article ("Children test your patience, but smacking is not the answer", The Herald, March 18).
We hear Mr Finnie claim that "substantial academic research around the world shows that physical punishment does not work". I don't believe it. These kind of unsubstantiated claims are typical of politicians who are still under the delusion that the people trust them. And who trusts academics now? We don't need the biased, selective results of men who are paid to support the agenda of their employers.
What we know is that we were (almost all) smack-justifiable when we were young and are much the better of it. We are grateful to our parents and teachers who had the unpleasant task of taming our unruly natures by administering necessary and effective corporal punishment. Even when it was administered mistakenly, it did us no harm but taught us that, in the real world, we cannot expect to get perfect justice every time. Academics and politicians and journalists who say it was harmful are delivering a massive insult to most Scots today who are living responsible, well-adjusted and creative lives.
Holyrood, waken up from your fantasy world and face the reality that young people are growing up undisciplined in school and home, to be a menace to themselves and those around them. We all feel pity for teachers today, having to waste endless hours trying to persuade children to agree to be educated. No wonder our standards are sliding rapidly.
The wisest man the world ever saw said: "Spare the rod and spoil the child." Sadly, it is becoming evident that wisdom and even common sense is a rare commodity among our rulers.
David S Fraser,
16 Newmarket, Stornoway.
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