Corporal Punishment & Culture

[Sharon Carnahan <Carnahan@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Dear Colleagues,
Thank you for all the information about spanking, CP, and culture.  I
did my first workshop on Friday and it went well -- no throwing of
rotten vegetables.  Here is the basic outline.

1. discussion of the relationship between family stress, parenting
skills, and child abuse
2. definitions of discipline as teaching activities
3. group listing of lessons children learn by age 5 in most american
households, provided by participants (ex. if you want undivided adult
attendtion you have to do something REALLY bad); included what children
"learn" through spanking and CP
4. appeal to train children not for superficial obedience only but to
have caring hearts and to respect others
5. In small groups, listed memories of their Worst Ever Boss and Best
Ever Teacher; shared with whole group and discussed our feelings about
authority.  Lots of cultural differences were freely discussed here.
6. Played a discussion game (like the Ungame) in small groups;  answered
questions like How could you tell that your mother really loved you? and
Tell about a time you were spanked or hit by a parent. and Describe a
time when you saw someone discipline a child inappropriately in a public
place.
7. Told contributor's story about Astrid Lindgren's mother (the child
who brought mother a rock to hit him with)
8.  Made a list of thingsthat all present (about 55 home visitors,
supervisors and other workers; about 90% African American or Haitian
American) could agree 100% were NEVER ok as dsicpline.  This took a
surprisingly long time and was very controversial; for ex. could NOT
agree 100% on no soap in the mouth or no hitting with a switch
9. Finished with a list of things we 100% agreed WERE OK methods of
discipline;  I then augmented this with a set of alternative methods
like redirection, holding, etc.

Thanks to your advice, the session was emotionally warm and open without
being adversarial.  I look forward to doing it again after refinements
(last 1/2 too long).
 Thanks again!

Sharon Carnahan, Ph.D.
Associate Prof of Psychology
Rollins College
Winter PArk, FL  32789-4499