Beating is physical violence. There is just so much local and international research on the ineffectivenessof beating as punishment and the emotional and psychological damage to children who are beaten that the big problem I am now having in writing this article is to decide which studies to quote and stay within my word count. Here are a few of them:

The American Psychological Association (APA) in opposing the use of corporal punishment in public institutions and private spaces points out that 'corporal punishment intended to influence undesirable responses may create in the child the impression that he or she is an undesirable person; and an impression that lowers self-esteem and may have chronic consequences.

Also, the APA points out that 'research has shown that to a considerable extent children learn by imitating the behaviour of adults, especially those they are dependent upon; and the use of corporal punishment by adults having authority over children is likely to train children to use physical violence to control behaviour rather than rational persuasion, education, and intelligent forms of both positive and negative reinforcement'.

The APA also indicates that 'research has shown that the effective use of punishment in eliminating undesirable behaviour requires precision in timing, duration, intensity, and specificity, as well as considerable sophistication in controlling a variety of relevant environmental and cognitive factors, such that punishment administered in institutional settings, without attention to all these factors, is likely to instil hostility, rage, and a sense of powerlessness without reducing the undesirable behaviour'.

So many studies by Dr. Maureen Samms-Vaughan have brought evidence suggesting that exposing children to violence is detrimental to their development and to order in our society. Dr. Samms-Vaughan (2000) indicates that family violence and child abuse are positively correlated with subsequent deviant behaviour and poor academic outcomes.

Saams-Vaughan, et al (2005), in looking at the disciplinary practices among parents of six-year-old children, indicates that "the extent and frequency of (corporal punishment) use in the home remains unacceptably high, given the known consequences"; 46.6 per cent of parents or guardian reported physical assault as disciplinary practices; 28 per cent reported that non-violent methods were commonly used and 25.4 per cent reported psychological aggression (for example, shouting).

Adolescents who were more likely to engage in fighting, bullying and victimisation of others reported that their parents engaged in corporal punishment as a disciplining method (Ohene, et al (2006); Pediatrics, 117, 441-447.)

We can't continue to expose our children to violence and then expect them to be well-adjusted individuals and model citizens. Step into the new millennium; use modern ways to teach children right from wrong. Stop beating our children!

eulalee.thompson@gleanerjm.com