NCJ Number
176815
Date Published
1996
Length
12 pages
Annotation
Physical punishment is the second most frequently used childrearing technique worldwide for children of both genders and all ages, and 75 percent of Canadian parents use corporal punishment in their attempts to control children's behavior.
Abstract
The frequent use of physical punishment persists despite mounting evidence that such punishment may have negative effects on children. For example, a linear relationship has been found between the frequency of spanking and the frequency of aggression toward siblings and parents among samples of preschoolers, school-aged children, and adolescents. In addition to effects on children's behavior, physical punishment has been repeatedly linked to child abuse. In Canada, the use of corporal punishment in schools and homes is legally sanctioned. Section 43 of the Criminal Code specifically permits the use of reasonable force by parents and teachers to correct children. There is growing controversy, however, about Canadian law on the role of corporal punishment in education and childrearing, and surveys indicate public education on risks of injury associated with corporal punishment may elicit the support of most Canadian citizens for abolishing Section 43. Even so, many Canadians believe that the use of corporal punishment is appropriate under at least some circumstances but that physical discipline is not a reliable method of teaching children how to behave. The Canadian government is not considering explicit prohibition of corporal punishment but is contemplating the removal of Section 43 from the Criminal Code. 31 references, 1 note, and 5 figures