I asked Sammy what to call the part of the body we can spank.  I thought his answer, gluteus maximus, was a bit much and said so.  So he said call it the posterior.  Still a bit much.  I asked why I could say the buttocks but not the butt.  He said he had no idea, but I could say glutes.  So I looked on line, “butt cheeks” seems proper.   Okay, I’m laughing – hope you are too.

Whatever you call the gluteus maximus muscle and the fat which covers it, is not my issue.  My issue is that it is very important to the subject of spanking.  When mom turns a three year old over her knee, the butt is the place to spank.  By the way it should not be administered on the bare skin.  Telling a child to drop his pants, adds humiliation to the mix.  Don’t go there.

I do believe in spanking because it can be immediate, over, and forgotten quickly and it can be administered to the safe area of the body.  😀  In order to be over and forgotten quickly, it must not be so hard that bruises and welts are left.  And it must be with real concern and love for the child.

I seldom spanked in school although I was advised to do so by the counselor in junior high.

I made an exception with a first/second grade class who did not think I cared if I did not spank.  Case in point.  One day the kids came in from recess trying to out talk each other telling about misbehavior on the playground.  I finally said, “All of you who deserve a spanking, come up here.”  To my amazement – and dismay – eight boys and one girl lined up.  What would you do?  Well I took the ping pong racket and gave each, one swat that wouldn’t have killed a fly.  But they felt “freed” from their misdeeds.  They were together in saying “David did it too.”  David wouldn’t confess but I think he did do it to.

I resorted to things that were far more damaging to a child.  Such as tearing up a paper a boy continued drawing after I told him to stop drawing and do his work.  He was a good little artist.  I’ve always felt bad for tearing up that picture.

Time out is among the worst of punishments.  It gives lots of time to brood and imagine how to get even.  Sitting one in the hall is even worse.  What a fun place to sit while others walk by.  Only the good kids are embarrassed, and I don’t believe in embarrassing children.  Taking something away?  Most children are not allowed to have anything at school that can be taken away.  Lunch?  Never.  Recess?  You can’t believe what a nice time to rummage in the teacher’s desk, and a golden opportunity to steal something, or get the play dough out to play with.

HOWEVER

Swats do not work at school if the child has been beaten at home. I have with tongue in cheek said that spanking only works on good kids.   And I sort of mean it.

Abused Children?  That’s a different post, not for today, and probably not from me.  At least not when my subject is punishment.