Corporal Punishment

This is one of my more controversial topics. I hope it will not offend anyone, as I am just sharing my personal opinion. :) This was a causal essay, and the point was to argue that a certain action will reap either positive or negative effects. Thus, I chose to argue that Corporal Punishment reaps positive effects. It's something I'm rather passionate about, although I will not say that it is the only  correct form of discipline. I am sure that in some cases, other methods certainly suffice! :) I am, obviously, not speaking from the experience of being a parent. However, I am speaking from the experience of being raised under this form of discipline - loving correction through corporal punishment. I know that it benefited me tremendously, and I will be forever grateful to my parents for choosing to raise me in this manner. :)
Anyhow, I hope it is enjoyable and possibly even beneficial! :)

Discipline in Love

       As modern times advance, people increasingly discredit corporal punishment as a valid disciplinary action. Many people see it as a form of abuse, or may believe it to harm a child’s self-esteem. Some would even say that it gives children a sense of justification to abuse others. In reality, however, the proper application of spanking is the most constructive form of discipline. The benefits of corporal punishment in children’s lives carry through to adulthood by teaching them responsibility for their actions, respect for others, and the concept of correction in love.
       The natural default in human nature is to blame someone or something else for all shortcomings. No person truly wishes to accept the fault of a mistake; nevertheless, it is a necessary way of life to give judgment where it is due. When a child behaves wrongly, it is imperative that she realize her own accountability for the offense. The consistent enforcement of corporal punishment proves to a child that she must face consequences for her negative actions.
       The main reason for the success of corporal punishment is a child’s instinctive understanding of pain. As Gary Ezzo points out in his parenting course, Growing Kids God’s Way, pain exists as a signal to alert one that something is not as it should be (202). This natural signal to physical danger also translates to moral dangers. Ezzo states, “The sensation of pain draws attention to foolish decisions that can lead to wrong behavior” (204). A young child who may not be old enough to comprehend why something is wrong will understand a spanking due to her intuitive response to pain. Just as a person who touches a hot pan is not likely to risk pain by touching it again, this understanding will teach the child to avoid repeating the action that initially caused her pain.
       Another key factor in corporal punishment is consistency in its administration. When a child has the guarantee of receiving a spanking for misbehavior, she will realize that there are inevitable consequences for her actions. The repetition of the punishment will strongly ingrain into a child the knowledge that she cannot expect to rebel without incurring judgment. Just as it takes multiple instances to create any habit, consistent consequences for an offense will cause a child to form a habit of obedience.
       Furthermore, a child raised under the discipline of corporal punishment will be more likely to carry that sense of responsibility into her adult life. When a child’s parents administer a spanking as a result of her misbehavior, she will see that she is the only one directly suffering for her actions. As a result, she will remember later in life that if she rebels, she will be the one who must accept responsibility.
       In addition to responsibility, corporal punishment also teaches respect. When a child receives a spanking for his mistreatment of someone else, he will develop an innate sense of respect for others. Respect has multiple aspects. For instance, if a child promptly receives a discipline after acting negatively toward a friend or sibling, he will learn that he should treat everyone with kindness. As he grows older, he will eventually understand that kindness is a form of respect that all deserve. He will also realize that failing to treat others kindly often reaps unpleasant results.
Likewise, the way one responds to authority also demonstrates respect. The article, “Corporal Punishment”, suggests that “overly permissive parents who do not spank are partly responsible for fostering social problems such as…young people’s disrespect for adults” (1). Parents willing to spank their child for disregarding authority will teach him proper courtesy toward his elders. A humble and respectful attitude toward authority is a vital trait for a child to learn. A child who possesses this quality is often pleasant for adults to be around; and when he grows older, adults will be impressed with his maturity. This admiration from adults also gives a child’s parents a good reputation. As the Bible says, parents who faithfully train their children will enjoy the results later (Proverbs 29:17).
       Yet another benefit of corporal punishment is the way in which it declares the care and concern of parents for their children. The Bible states, “Those who spare the rod of discipline hate their children. Those who love their children care enough to discipline them” (Proverbs 13:24). When parents correctly administer a spanking, it will show a child the concept of a loving form of correction. Children are inclined to view discipline as being only negative. However, if parents take the time to explain to their child the reason for the spanking, let her know that they do not enjoy it, and finish by reminding her of their love, the child will gradually see punishment as being for her ultimate good.
       Once a child reaches the realization that a spanking is for her benefit, she will eventually begin to notice and appreciate specific aspects of her parents’ disciplinary methods. A child will respect – even if it is subconsciously – parents who demonstrate consistency in punishment, rather than allowing her to make poor choices without consequence. When parents are lax in their disciplinary actions, they may communicate to their child that she is not worth the effort. This may even inspire her to further rebel in the hope that it will catch their attention.
       Later in life, a child will see that her parents were willing to spank her because they cared about her well-being. As stated in “Corporal Punishment”, when parents take the time to spank their children, they may be sparing them from the harm of many tough issues (5). Looking back on her childhood, an adult will see the many ways in which her parents protected her from harm by administering punishment. At the time, a spanking may have seemed a terrible occurrence, but the result may have been much worse had the behavior gone unattended.
       Overall, while the world highly debates and criticizes corporal punishment, it has proven itself a successful child-rearing method. The long-term effects of a spanking are certainly worth the short-term discomfort it may bring. While spankings are unpleasant experiences for all involved, children and parents alike will be thankful for them in the end.

A Reflection of the Heart

I know...I never finished posting my camp journal entries. Maybe I'll get around to it later, but I'm not feelin' it at the moment. :P
Anyway, I'm taking an English course at our community college this semester, and I've really enjoyed writing these essays. The focus of the course is writing argumentatively, so I've chosen a few very controversial topics...my favorite! ;)
So, since I've taken so much time to write these essays about topics which really are important to me, I figured I might as well share them on my blog! :) I hope you enjoy them!
I'll start with one that, hopefully, isn't too controversial... This essay was a definition argument, and I chose to define the word "modesty".

A Reflection of the Heart

  The modesty of women’s attire is a subject of much disagreement and debate.  People are always attempting to designate the appropriate length of skirts and shorts, height of necklines, and tightness of outfits.  These constantly varying sets of rules are a source of much dissension among all concerned with modesty.  As very few people possess the exact same standard for what types of clothing are acceptable, this leads to unnecessary judging of one another’s personal choices.  How ideal it would be if there were a set of rules including exact measurements and specific examples of what is truly modest.  Modesty, however, cannot be pinpointed as one particular dress code, but is rather an outward representation of a woman’s attitude, regard for others, and respect for herself.
The way in which a woman clothes herself often exemplifies her inward motives and attitude.  Clothing styles are a strong expression of one’s personality and morals; and as such, bold outfits imply bold personality and moral statements.  For instance, flashy and revealing attire gives the impression that a woman wants to draw inappropriate attention to herself.  Such attention is often from those who do not have her best interest in mind, and may be the cause of uncomfortable situations.  Additionally, wearing this type of outfit is likely to evoke the judgment of others.  While this reaction is often uncalled for and unnecessary, it is generally the natural inclination of humans.
Conversely, when a woman chooses to dress herself in shapeless or unflattering attire, she implies that she is unsure of herself and lacks confidence.  To be modest is not to be unattractive.  In fact, it seems that when a woman goes to extremes in her attempt to conceal her body, she often attracts more attention to herself, thereby defeating the original intent behind her clothing choices.
  A modest wardrobe should consist of clothing that is attractive in a way that reflects both a woman’s confidence and her humility.  Her apparel should flatter her body without flaunting it, thus representing a humble and unassuming beauty which is a direct result of her heart’s attitude.  This modest character is embodied in a woman who is, as the Oxford English Dictionary says, “decorous in manner and conduct; not forward, impudent, or lewd”.
       From this humble attitude, there should stem an ambition in women to prove their regard for others by what they wear.  Women should consider their audience when choosing their outfit each day.  One group of people in said audience is men, who tend to be more visually stimulated than do women.  By wearing revealing and indecent clothing, a woman may unknowingly be causing men to have improper thoughts toward her.  It should be considered a common courtesy on the part of a woman to adequately cover herself, so as not to be a negative distraction to men.
       Another group in a woman’s audience is, of course, other women.  Outfits that flaunt and draw attention to a woman’s body often create envy and jealousy in other women.  Once again, while this certainly does not mean that a woman should hide her figure, she should take into consideration how her clothing might affect her fellow women.  As a member of this gender herself, a woman should typically understand this feeling and wish to lessen it for others.
       A third group to consider is those in a woman’s audience who view her as a role model.  Often, the people in this group are those younger than she – particularly girls.  When a woman decides to wear an outfit, it would be prudent of her to first contemplate what message she will be sending to younger girls who may be observing her.  She should ask herself whether she would want to see these girls wearing an outfit such as hers; and if not, she should consider changing it so as to set a positive example.
       Just as proving their regard for others, women’s apparel should also indicate a certain level of respect for themselves.  Every woman has a desire to be considered beautiful, but women should wish to be viewed as attractive based on their natural beauty, rather than how much their clothing reveals.  If a woman is wearing a risqué outfit and receives a compliment on her appearance, she cannot know if the compliment referred to her true beauty or simply to her body.  A woman should want to be attractive in a manner that is wholesome and not in ways that only serve to cheapen her beauty.
       Women should consider their clothing an opportunity to preserve their dignity, and even to create an air of mystery and intrigue.  When a woman chooses to flaunt her body through the clothes she wears, she immediately loses this opportunity.  A woman wishing to earn the respect of others must realize that one aspect of this is to treat her body as a delicate vessel which is to be properly concealed from the public.  Additionally, a woman who clothes herself properly ensures that her body is a secret to be shared with only her husband.  Such intrigue in a woman certainly adds to her attractiveness.
       Outward appearance, however, is not the only trait to be considered in women.  A woman does not need to attract attention to herself by the way she dresses, but more importantly by her other noteworthy qualities.  The apostle Paul states that “women who claim to be devoted to God should make themselves attractive by the good things they do” (1 Timothy 2:10, NLT).  The most beautiful aspect of every woman should be the admirable attributes she exhibits.
       If a woman’s beauty is judged by such features as her character, values, true motives, and love for others, then modesty should be an extension of these things.  Modesty is an outward exhibition of an inward condition, in that the level of humility within a woman will inevitably translate to her external appearance.  Every woman must decide for herself what is to be her standard of modesty, but she should remember that what she wears reflects who she is.  Women have a great responsibility to represent themselves with propriety; they simply must choose to take advantage of every opportunity to do so.