In Canada, there are numerous laws and policies in place to ensure the safety of all Canadians, especially those who are the most vulnerable in our society: children. In our society if we witness a crime, we are able to call or report it to the police. We take for granted the feeling of being protected and safe while walking down the street because we know that law enforcement and the community are vigilant and can intervene if necessary. With the simple touch of a few buttons, we can get rescuers there within minutes. However, not everything is visible in the public sphere of life as many things go unnoticed and happen behind closed doors, and often within the home. The use of corporal punishment has been linked to negative developmental outcomes in children, yet it is still legal to use corporal punishment on a child. This essay will discuss the effects of corporal punishment, why parents use corporal punishment on their children, and whether this parenting style should be used. A decision made by the Supreme Court of Canada in 2004 established that there are limitations on the use of corporal punishment. It cannot be used on children under 2 years of age and over 12 years of age, nor on disabled children of any age. It is also specified that this practice cannot be degrading, inhuman or harmful, and that it cannot involve the use of any type of object such as belts or rulers. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on the topic "Why violent video games should not be banned"? Get an original essay​Research has shown that exposure to domestic violence has long-term effects, with negative effects on intrapersonal thoughts, emotional health, social skills, learning, and physical health. The argument is that if research shows that domestic violence has long-term effects, we should not be allowed to use corporal punishment on children. Corporal punishment can be defined as the use of physical force with the intention of causing pain, but not injury, to the child, for the purpose of correcting or controlling the child's behavior. Some parents use it as a parenting style towards their children; when, for example, children don't behave or don't do as they're told, some parents will use corporal punishment when they see fit. When a parent uses corporal punishment on their child, it can interfere with the relationship and the development of trust that is forming between parent and child. This in turn will make the child less likely to comply. If the child always lives in fear of being punished, then his attention will focus on the consequences for himself rather than on the consequences of his behavior. If the child only obeys when controlled by corporal punishment, once the punisher is absent, the child's internal motivation to obey is weakened. Spanking is the most common corporal punishment used on children. The younger the child, the more likely corporal punishment will be used on him. If the parenting style changes from punitive to non-punitive, research shows that the child's aggressive behavior scores just as low as that of those who parent exclusively non-punitive. It does not appear to be used effectively by parents once their child reaches age 9. It is difficult to know exactly how hard the child is being slapped, as some adults spank more than others. In a traditional family, the mother is more likely to use corporal punishment than the father. Parents' previous experiences with corporal punishment will influencethe way they parent their children. Research has shown that parents who are beaten as children are more likely to beat their own children. Cultural and subcultural norms may influence the use of corporal punishment in addition to parents' past history with corporal punishment. When parents resort to corporal punishment, they may not realize the extent to which they are spanking their children. For example, violent parents spank children more often than nonviolent parents and that excessive spanking may be a risk factor for child abuse. Therefore, relying on spanking may increase the potential for severe and frequent physical punishment. ​In the past, corporal punishment was used by parents, as well as teachers, for religious reasons. If you were left-handed at school, teachers would spank your hand with objects like rulers so you wouldn't use your left hand to write; the reason is that the left hand is associated with the devil side. Many people were forced to change their dominant writing hand from left to right simply because of religious beliefs, and were subjected to corporal punishment for doing so. My grandmother is one of those people who unfortunately today cannot write very legibly as she is right-handed due to being forced to go to school. It is believed that this form of child punishment would eliminate the child's sins. The child must benefit from the discipline used. Which goes into more detail to explain that a child's age and disability can affect the child's ability to learn from the use of force. That the force must be “reasonable in the circumstances” and “not offend society's view of decency”. The term "reasonable force" depends on individual interpretation which can also lead to misinterpretation. Sometimes it is necessary for the law to step in and remove children from their parents if the treatment and punishment they receive is too severe. On the other hand, some parents choose to use corporal punishment as it is believed to be an effective tool for correcting misbehavior, reinforcing respect and obedience, protecting the child from harm, teaching life lessons, and preparing the child for life's challenges. . In the past it was thought that if you used corporal punishment then you were considered a good parent and could even be seen as a sign of caring.​On the other hand, we have those who are strong advocates against the use of corporal punishment altogether, because perceive as immoral. We have laws in place to protect adults and even pets from harm, but children can be. This puts the child at risk and can also be potentially violent and distressing. This violates our Canadian Charter of Freedoms and Rights and is seen as an ineffective way to correct “misbehavior.” Those who oppose the use of corporal punishment point out that it is a violation of human rights and goes against the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. Children are the most vulnerable and parents are the ones who make sure they are safe, but this calls into question whether the child is safe when physically punished at the discretion of the parents. We don't allow adults to be physically hurt by others, but we allow them to hurt those who are vulnerable. During childhood development, children learn by observing and imitating. If they see their parents hitting or slapping them while they are angry, the child may imitate that behavior when they get angry, and that is what they see happening as a result of getting angry. Some children may begin to use some of the corporal punishment thatthey are used on them against other classmates at school, for example when they argue with another child for playing with a toy. The child who grows up in a punitive environment would be more likely to use aggressive or physical behavior than the child who is not punitive. In our society we cannot legally correct the misbehavior of anyone over the age of 12 with physical force, and it is argued that this should be the same for children. Some people see corporal punishment as a way for parents to abuse their children, a right granted to adults by the government and Section 43 of the Penal Code. Overall, we should protect those who are the most vulnerable who need protection and have rights just like any other Canadian or person in the world. Parents resort to corporal punishment for many reasons. They may have been raised with corporal punishment, don't know other parenting styles to use as an alternative, or simply because nothing else seems to work. There are many problems that can arise and even worsen when spanking a child. It models aggression and children are more likely to do what their parents do rather than what their parents say. It can make the child feel ashamed because he considers himself “bad” and can develop some self-esteem problems. A child who feels shame will not learn or be motivated to improve his or her behavior. It is not a parenting style you can follow after the child reaches a certain age, so children will outgrow corporal punishment as they get older and parents should find an alternative way to punish their child, taking away an electronic device for one day. be more effective than spanking the child. Too often, parents rely on corporal punishment to solve behavioral problems that could end up making them even worse. Parents should explore all types of discipline styles, but most don't look for an alternative. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay To conclude, corporal punishment has been a parenting style for a long time and used for generations. It would be very difficult to eliminate all corporal punishment in the home, as it is often unseen and permitted by Article 43 of the Penal Code. Parents will care for their children in the way they deem acceptable, but more education is needed about the effects of corporal punishment and other methods of punishment they may impose. There is no single way to properly educate a child and every parent has the right to choose how to discipline their child. With more general education about corporal punishment, we can change the way society views it. Overall corporal punishment can be used effectively, but how often, how severe, and why are not always appropriate. One child in a family may correct their behavior after experiencing corporal punishment and the other sibling in the family may not, where the removal of an electronic device may be their corrective form of punishment. Corporal punishment should not be the only form of punishment used on a child as it is extreme and should be used as a last resort. Works Cited Benjet, C., Kazdin, A. E., & Spanking, CTFOA (2003). Parental corporal punishment and its impact on children: Public health challenges and implications for research. Aggressive Behavior, 29(6), 531-548. Durrant, J. E. (2008). The law and corporal punishment in Canada., 108(3), 542-560.