Nancy, there is very recent research that shows that children who are spanked occasionally, but only with an open hand and never with belts or paddles, and not before the age of two, or when they are adolescents, or very frequently, and otherwise reared in an atmosphere of love and reasonable limits, are not usually unduly traumatized by the experience. Here is the report, if you are interested in reading it:
usnews.com
That is such a narrow range of of acceptable spanking, in methods and age groups, that parents who are already on the edge of losing control are probably the least likely to follow the guidelines, however, if they even could remember them, and the most likely to spank their children to maintain control.
My understanding is that spanking is absolutely allowed everywhere in America, but that it is not all right to leave bruises or welts. I am not sure society is really very involved in taking these rights away from parents, at least not that I have heard. Have you heard something different?
Personally, I have read nothing that indicates college-educated children are more likely to divorce than any other group. Because they tend to marry much later, in fact, my guess would be that their marriages are a little more stable, but it is just a guess. It would be an interesting thing to study, though. |
