Against the corporal punishment of children

Abstract

John Wilson suggests there are six advantages for corporal punishment: cheap and easy to administer, effective deterrent, effective reform, adjustable pain, fair because of similar dislike of pain, no permanent damage. None of these survive close scrutiny. An alternative, deontological argument against corporal punishment is proposed building on four points Wilson mentions but is dismissive of: assault, attack on a person's self, cannot defend oneself from it, cannot retain one's dignity in the face of it. From this analysis two conclusions are reached: Wilson's case for corporal punishment fails, and there is a sound case for not using corporal punishment. The final section raises a question about Wilson's motivation: why support it if one is against it?

Notes

Social and Policy Studies in Education, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand. Email: [email protected]