Should the U.S. reinstitute corporal punishment - Essay Example

Should the US reinstitute Corporal Punishment? According to the UNESCO (2005) publication, any corporal punishment is prohibited with respect to human rights. A person is entitled to fundamental rights which include right to physical integrity and human dignity. Hitting people is a violation of this right. Thus, for me, I am against the reinstitution of the corporal punishment. In Europe, any form of corporal punishment is abolished. This includes abolition in schools, other institutions and in penal system.

The banning of this type of punishment has started in Sweden and has extended to different countries. Corporal punishment is diminutive of personal respect to each person. I believe that each person in entitled to a respect of his dignity. And this type of punishment is unacceptable. According to research, corporal punishment has not been effective as means of instilling morals and solving social problems. This type of punishment threatens the physical well being of a person. According to research, corporal punishment also results in depression, anxiety, stress and other emotional related problems.

In the bible, there are conflicting provisions when it comes to corporal punishment. According to Robinson (2005), there are passages that contain or recommend the use of the physical pain to discipline children. One of these passages can be found in Prov 22:14 which states that “Thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from hell (Shoel).” Some of those conservative Christians or followers of the Bible require parents to use corporal punishment. However, the so-called Golden Rule is telling us another point.

Jesus always teaches us the theme to treat others as you would wish to be treated. But who wants to be paddled, spanked or whipped? Every person does not like to be inflicted with pain. Thus following the Golden Rule? it can be said that adults should not inflict pain or any corporal punishment as they themselves do not like to be treated like that. I do not want the corporal punishment to be instituted. I believe that there are a lot of means on how to discipline a child or a person. Corporal punishment is not an option to this.

Studies and researches findings described corporal punishment as not productive. This type of punishment does not only threaten the physical well being of a child or a person but also mental health. Severe infliction of physical harm may lead to severe forms of violence. The Convention on the Rights of the Child provided set of standards for child behaviour and development. They are offering constructive discipline as a principle to discipline a child instead of corporal punishment. There were constructive discipline practices provided as means of disciplining a child without inflicting pain.

These practices include respecting child’s dignity; developing pro-social behaviour, self-discipline and character; maximizing the child’s active participation and a lot more. Therefore, it would be more productive and helpful if corporal punishment will not be reinstated. References: Against Corporal Punishment–Moving Toward Constructive Child Discipline (2005). Retrieved April 29, 2011 from http://nospank.net/unesco.htm Robinson, B. (2005). Child Corporal Punishment: Spanking. Retrieved April 30, 2011 from http://www.

religioustolerance.org/spankin10.htm