This is such an emotional issue for parents. In Athens, we had a mom's boyfriend arrested for aggravated assault after he "disciplined" his girlfriend's children with a belt strap and belt buckle. Wonder how well laws will prevent rage?

I think it's always going to be hard to evaluate the application of a law like this. Currently the law for filing for abuse involves physical discipline that leaves a mark or otherwise visibly harms the child. Even that can be subjective.

Making it illegal isn't going to stop the problem of physical abuse, and from a clinical perspective, physical discipline is extremely limited if it is useful at all. It is limited because parents who use it come to rely on it as their sole punishment, and eventually kids are too big to spank and/or big enough to hit back. It's also limited because it sends a mixed message - we teach our kids not to hit and hurt people (at least, I think MOST of us do) and then we go and hurt them. This just confuses them. Finally, when it seems to "work" -- i.e. keep a kid in line -- it does so by creating fear. This is not the relationship most parents really want with their kid, if you ask them. You want them to respect you, not fear you, and that's not the same thing.

Instead of passing laws, how about funding more parent support groups and parent education seminars about alternative ways to handle misbehavior and set limits. Bottom line is, spanking just isn't that effective.

This is another example of the nanny state rearing it's ugly head. The last thing we need is the government stepping in where they don't belong. I get that they are trying to prevent abuse but the ambiguity of the new broad definition could be dangerous for parents who aren't abusive but use corporal punishment. I personally don't spank my kids but I certainly don't want the government meddling in my parental rights. If lawmakers are going to take such action against child abuse, they really should write in a clause that protects parents as well as children.

I have mixed feeling on this issue. On one hand I see that this bill was designed to help children but laws like this are a slippery slope. I can't trust laws that rely on the promises of good motivations or good intents from the government. Oh, they could charge me for spanking my child by the wording of this bill but I should just trust that they won't abuse that power. I don't even spank my kids and this bill is makes my kind of bajigiddy. It seems like a threat to our civil liberties.

Hmmmm. I understand the spirit and intent of the law; however, I wonder where the definitions will stop and how much government interference there might be? Are we just one step away from including "emotional distress" or "emotional pain" in that definition? Will the government one day tell us that they don 't agree with timeouts because that creates social separation and emotional distress?

Parents need to keep the purpose and long term outcomes of discipline in mind.
Governments should tread lightly in this area that has been left so wide=open to interpretation, argument, and persuasion.

By the way, the purpose of parental discipline isn't for parents to vent anger or frustration when a child misbehaves. The purpose is to help the child gain self-control and good judgment in decision making. I have seen parents at both ends of the spectrum. One set of parents did not redirect or discipline their children in any way and those kids ended up with no self=control. They sought instant gratification and got themselves into all sorts of trouble as they grew up. Another set of parents went overboard with corporal punishment... spanking at will for any infringement and their children were fearful and withdrawn.

So, has the time come when "Big Brother is watching" even more closely than ever?

Lots of good points made here in the comments section. I am personally against spanking for all of the reasons already mentioned, but something about this bill just feels like it crosses a boundary. I don't like it. I do like the education idea. It just seems like there is alot of grey area when it comes to discipline. God forbid a good, well intentioned mama be seperated from her child for years because someone misread the situation.

I admit I spank my children when it is necessary (which, thankfully, is seldom) and my parents spanked me, but we don't act out of anger or frustration. The goal is to teach my children to respect their parents, teachers and leaders, not to make them tremble with fear. As they are getting older, I can mostly give the kids the "mommy" look and they know they are nearing a line.
The way the law is written, though sounds like not only is punishment to be addressed, but causing any pain!? This could be anything from brushing tangles out of hair to buying new shoes that rub blisters or forgetting to reapply sunscreen!
Hopefully this won't stand up to the court system for long.

Great article Leigh. I live in Maryland but grew up in South Carolina in the 1980's when spanking was not seen as anything unusual or harmful. I personally don't like spanking as a form of discipline because there are always other better ways to teach. In Maryland, there are not laws against spanking, but if a child reports in school that they have been spanked (and they use that term),my understanding is that the teachers here are required by law to report that to social services. Because of this, there seems to be a lot of "closet spanking" Obviously, I don't mean parents are spanking in the closet, but they may be spanking and just not telling anyone they spank. So everyone here says, "NOooooooo, I don't spank!" when in fact they may.
SO--that being said, I'm all about more laws to educate and help teach parents better ways--funding for free programs to teach parents and maybe even those programs could be offered in the schools. I am NOT, however for laws against parents spanking, as I think it will just continue to happen. A parent who spanks is not some horrible person (I mean, some probably are) but rather just a parent who doesn't yet have a complete understanding that there is a different approach.Just my opinion! More education is my vote. AWESOME article!!

spanking shouldnt be illegal and its one of tha reason why juviniles act tha way THAY do in northern citys ,THERE parents dont disipline themb and THAY jus run amuck ,spraypaintn and vandalizin ,rapen and robbing ole ladys at bus stops .