I came across this interesting article by Peter C. Glover called Child Discipline and the Limits of the Civil Law. In the article Peter addresses the topic of when civil laws begin to dictate the limits of discipline allowable by parents on their children (i.e. spanking) what the appropriate response of parents should be.  I think Peter does a fairly good job of handling the subject of spanking or physical discipline as well both from a bibilical and practical viewpoint.

Personally, I believe parents should have the freedom to physically discipline their child however in my home, spanking is always a last resort and only used in situations that warrant it.  I think a more important key to discipline is that your children are discouraged from doing the wrong activity again.  If parents are diligent in understanding their children (through spending time with them), they will learn what appropriate form of punishment works best with each child.  For example, I could spank one of my children ’till their bum was raw and I was blue in the face (a figure of speech, I would never do that of course) and it wouldn’t have the slightest effect on his behavior.  But if I was to put them in a corner and make them stay there for 5 minutes it definitely affects his behavior.  Another one of my children has a favorite blanket and if the discipline is removal of her blanket for a day that is the most effective discipline we could use.  The point is that parents need to learn what is the most effective discipline for their child and use it.

I think its great that governments want to ensure that children are protected from the physically abusive parent but care must be taken to ensure that it does not usurp the important role that parents have in disciplining their children and dictate what may or may not be used.

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