LETTER TO THE EDITOR: SPANKING AND CHILD ABUSE ARE NOT INTERCHANGEABLE
by Sarah Sonne
September 1, 2009
The article "Father Charged With Spanking Nine-Year-Old Son In Public" needs some clarity.
The father seized his son by the throat, and yet the child was not injured? He was charged with spanking in the title, but with assault in the body of the article. I have read this article three times now and still don't understand what's going on. Cleary, seizing a nine year old by the throat, although somehow without injury them, is not in any way a part of spanking.
Spanking is a quick tap with an open palm on a child's hand or bum to get the to stop a behavior that is dangerous or disruptive to them or others. It should never cause injury to a child, ever.
Child abuse is something entirely different. Unfortunately the two terms are used interchangeably all too often.
