We’re shocked that there’s still a law that allows teachers and caregivers to legally spank children.
And we’re even MORE shocked that a Kansas House member wants to make it so adults can hit these kids harder!
And Kansas House member Gail Finney, D-Wichita says the bill is designed to bring back parent rights!
Um what?
The bill would allow up to 10 strikes of a child’s hand, and could let adults hit them hard enough to allow bruises and redding.
The person who originally proposed the bill also believes that this law will define what one can do with regards to spanking and what one can’t do.
McPherson Deputy County Attorney Britt Colle said:
“This bill basically defines a spanking along with necessary reasonable physical restraint that goes with discipline, all of which has always been legal. This bill clarifies what parents can and cannot do. By defining what is legal, it also defines what is not.”
Thankfully the bill has a lot of opposition. Its detractors say the bill seems like it was created from another time, another place.
Here’s what one opponent said;
“Twenty, 30 years ago, we didn’t sit in car seats, and we do now. So maybe they did spank or were spanked as a child, but now we have research that shows it is less effective than time out. It tends to lead to more aggressive behavior with a child.”
We absolutely agree with that! In fact, if it were up to us, we’d not only shoot this bill down, but the whole kit and caboodle that says caregivers and teachers can hit kids.
People in favor of the law believe it will make sure their authority is recognized by children despite the fact that 30 other states have decided to ban corporal punishment altogether.
Why don’t these proponents of this bill pick on someone their own size?!