Beginning to Evolve in Methods of Punishment

Corporal punishment for the most part has been a steady part of schooling children, with the first accounts in ancient Egypt and Greece, but with evidence dating back further, according to www.localhistories.org. Parents, in order to show their dominance over a child, would physically slap, hit, kick, or spank a child. For those who were of a high enough status and could afford to send their children to school, this method was also used in the educational environment. The Grecians believed that in order to build a strong society, the rule of “survival of the fittest” must be applied. Now, in an era where brains mean more than brawn, the methods of schooling children should be changed. Since then, we have made it a point to wrap our minds around concepts and ideas that help us evolve, particularly in the areas of science, mathematics, labor, etc. If we made it a point to evolve in those areas, then why isn’t it possible for us to evolve in the area of parenting? The “corporal punishment” method seems to be very outdated.
Children are simply not accepting the corporal method of punishment anymore. The attitude of American children has evolved into that of belligerence and spite for those who tend to hurt them. Children in previous times (like those mentioned in ancient Egypt) were under a strict governmental/social system and were not allowed to break rules, compared to the lenient system of today. A certain amount of respect was present in the classroom. The teachers have very little control in the learning environment now. This is unnecessary fear not needed to drive home the simple concept of “action and reaction” or “cause and effect” which could be effectively learned with the proper positive reinforcement. An alternate method of punishment would include having a “time-out” session which allows the parent to regain his or her mentality as well as allow the child to consider the consequences to his or her action.
The United States should adopt a ban against all corporal punishment. As an avid watcher of a popular television series, Nanny911, my mind can only revert back to the nanny’s strict, no-hitting approach with the children. Now this may not be a completely reliable source, considering that it is “reality television” but the premise behind the punishment is correct. Let us spend our time considering alternate methods to punishing our children, rather than raising a hand to them.