spoil the child essay

Spare the Rod or Spoil the Child: Outline Argumentative Essay

Introduction, history of corporal punishment, benefits of corporal punishment, works cited.

The purpose of this argument is to determine whether corporal punishment is beneficial to children and their development. We have all experienced some form of corporal punishment whether from our parents or from our teachers in school. To majority of societies around the world, corporal punishment is the norm rather than the exception.

For example communities in Spain do not see corporal punishment as something strange while most African societies view corporal punishment as a way of rectifying a child’s behavior. However most westernized countries view this form of punishment as barbaric and detrimental to the child’s overall development.

The National Association of School Nurses (NASN par. 1) defines corporal punishment as the infliction of physical pain which is intentional with the aim of changing behavior. Corporal punishment is also defined as the use of physical force to cause pain to the recipient as a way of punishing their misbehavior.

The main component of corporal punishment is the use of physical violence to correct the child’s behavior. Corporal punishment might take the form of spanking, slapping, hitting, pinching or shaking. To differentiate between corporal punishment and physical abuse, two factors have to be taken into consideration which is the intensity of the punishment and the intention of meting out corporal punishment.

The intensity of the punishment refers to whether the recipient has incurred any extensive injuries as a result of the physical punishment. The intention of the punishment refers to whether it has been directed to teach or discipline the recipient (Vieccelli and Ricas 2).

The history of corporal punishment is viewed to be as old as human civilization. It can be traced back to the Middle Ages when children or adults caught in misconduct were disciplined by physical violence. In Middle Age England, the most common form of punishment was flogging which involved whopping or whipping the offender with a rod or whip.

This type of punishment was however abolished and banished in 1874 (Baxamusa par.2). In the U.S. parents were seen to be the most common users of corporal punishment with spanking being their most common tool of punishment.

Teachers were also seen to use corporal punishment in the early 80s when dealing with misbehavior in students by caning, pinching or slapping (Child discipline par.1). It was also acceptable for teachers and school authorities to whip or spank children as a form of disciplinary action (Baxamusa par.3).

Some states in America have banned corporal punishment by enacting laws that prohibit teachers from physically disciplining children. According to 2006-2007 U.S. statistics, 223,190 school going children were subjected to form of corporal punishment in the course of their studies.

This is an indication that the use of corporal punishment in schools has decreased by 18 percent when compared to the 1980s. While many states have created laws to prohibit corporal punishment, other states have legalized it as a form of disciplinary action (Baxamusa par. 10).

Many scholars and academics have viewed corporal punishment to be a negative form of discipline as it affects the child’s or student’s behavior. According to Save the Children’s awareness campaign on corporal punishment, children who have been subjected to corporal punishment experience a low self esteem, feelings of sadness and anger as well as feelings of loneliness and abandonment.

Their social skills within and outside the school are also affected as they are afraid to communicate what they want (Richardson et al 126). Corporal punishment has also been viewed to increase fear of reprisals creating educational barriers that lead to poor performance in school.

Children who have undergone punishment also have a negative view of their school and also of the society making it difficult for them to integrate into their community. Physical punishment also discourages reasoning by affecting the child’s reasoning capabilities (Save the Children 2).

Gershoff (539) in her studies on corporal punishment has noted that this form of punishment has played an integral role in how parents discipline their children. This form of punishment has been the main focus of psychological research in the United States with various researchers and academics providing contributions on whether corporal punishment is beneficial or detrimental to the child’s development.

Despite various countries adopting measures to prohibit the use of corporal punishment as a form of discipline, support for using corporal punishment in the U.S. has remained strong with 94 percent of parents and school teachers supporting the use of physical violence to discipline errant children (Gershoff 539).

While there have been many negative effects of corporal punishment, there are scholars who have advocated for the use of corporal punishment in dealing with discipline cases.

Child psychologists who advocate for the use of corporal punishment have noted that it is advantageous in that it is the only form of language that children will understand and react to. This is especially so with children who have been identified to be problematic and reckless.

Rather than pamper and spoil these types of children, psychologists have seen corporal discipline as a means of preventing children with poor conduct or behavior from degenerating even further to reckless behavior. To further explain the term “spare the rod or spoil the child” various advantages of using corporal punishment have been advocated for when compared to using non physical forms of punishment (Victor par.2).

For example corporal punishment deters repeat cases of misconduct and misbehavior. Children who are physically punished for doing something wrong are most likely to not repeat the offence in future. This can also be attributed to the instantaneous effect physical punishment has on children caught in reckless behavior.

The use of corporal punishment has also been seen to restrain children from engaging in reckless behavior with respect to historical statistics which have shown that children behave well after they have been subjected to corporal disciplinary action (Turner 217).

Benatar (par.46) came up with positive arguments for carrying out corporal punishment on children one of which was that it was used to discipline children who were found to be guilty of misconduct. Only the guilty offenders identified to have committed misconduct faced disciplinary action regardless of whether there were other participants in the misconduct case or not.

He also noted corporal punishment played a significant role in the scale of punishments used in school contexts (Benatar Par. 50).

Corporal punishment filled the gap that was created when other forms of punishment were used such as detention, suspension or expulsion. Another benefit of corporal punishment is that when used in the proper context, it initiates a change in behavior as the recipient will be deterred from misbehaving in future (Benatar par. 52).

Victor (par.2) argues that the use of corporal punishment is particularly beneficial for children who are irrational, impulsive and need some firmness. He noted that children’s impulsive nature needed to be controlled through tougher methods of punishment such as corporal discipline. He advocates for the sustained use of physical force on children with regards to the level of misconduct they have engaged in.

Benatar (Par. 53) advocates for the use of corporal punishment as long as the enforcers of the punishment exercise just corporal punishment. This can be achieved by inflicting pain to the children in an infrequent manner and also ensure that the punishment is meted out in a non discriminative way so as to ensure there is no racial or gender bias.

Corporal punishment should also observe due process and timing so that it can be justified. Due process will entail punishing the guilty parties while timing refers to whether the punishment will take place before or after the wrongdoing (Benatar par. 55, 56)

Corporal punishment does not necessarily have to be viewed as a negative form of punishment. Through the use of appropriate restrictions, it can be used to discipline children who have been found to misbehave or have engaged in misconduct.

Despite the many protagonists who have argued about the disadvantages of corporal punishment, this form of discipline can prove to be beneficial when dealing with cases of misbehavior, truancy or misconduct amongst school going children.

Corporal punishment is an effective method of deterring detrimental behaviors in children who are still developing. It eliminates cases of repeat misconduct or misbehavior in children who have not responded to the other forms of punishment such as detention, suspension, reprimanding or expulsion.

Baxamusa, B. History of corporal punishment. Web.

Benatar, D. Corporal punishment , 2001. Web.

Child D. Pro corporal punishment . Web.

Gershoff, E. Corporal punishment by parents and associated child behaviours and experiences: a meta-analysis and theoretical review, Psychological Bulletin , 128(4), pp.539-579, 2002.

National Association of School Nurses (NASN), Corporal punishment in schools , 2002. Web.

Richardson, T., Marsha, W., Bruce, A., and Daniel A. Child abuse and violence , New York: Nova Science Publishers, 2008.

Save the Children, Awareness campaign against corporal punishment of children in families . Web.

Turner, Susan M., Something to cry about: an argument against corporal punishment of children , Ontario, Canada: Wilfrid Laurier University Press, 2002. Print.

Victor, D. Corporal punishment-child abuse or discipline? 2007. Web.

Vieccelli, M., and Janete, R., Parent’s perspective on child rearing and corporal punishment , 2008. Web.

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“Spare the Rod, Spoil the Child” - True Origin and Bible Meaning

• Kyle Blevins Crosswalk.com Contributing Writer
• Updated Dec 20, 2023

"Spare the rod, spoil the child" is a phrase you may have heard before, but do you know its real origin and meaning? Learn the true source of this well-known phrase and how it relates to Bible.

Origin of "Spare the Rod, Spoil the Child"

There is often confusion between this phrase and a biblical Proverb regarding “sparing the rod.” This phrase was actually coined by a 17th-century poet and satirist by the name of Samuel Butler in his poem “ Hudibras .” The poem’s main characters, Hudibras and the widow he longs for, are planning to start a love affair, but before the widow commits to it, she asks Hudibras to prove his love for her by committing to twisted acts. The widow then states:

If matrimony and hanging go By dest’ny, why not whipping too? What med’cine else can cure the fits Of lovers when they lose their wits? Love is a boy by poets stil’d; Then spare the rod, and spoil the child.

This is night and day compared to the biblical verse containing the phrase “spare the rod.” The term “spoil the child” is not actually in the Bible. What “spare the rod, spoil the child” actually means in reference to biblical guidance is to guide our children in the way they should go. Let’s explore this phrase further in the Bible. 

Meaning of "Spare the Rod, Spoil the Child"

Bible verse that inspired "spare the rod, spoil the child".

This phrase is most closely associated with Proverbs 13:24 . We start to understand the context more as we read in various translations.

“Those who spare the rod of discipline hate their children. Those who love their children care enough to discipline them.” ( New Living Translation )

In any translation, the intent is disciplining our children in the sense of guiding them in the way they should go. To put it simply, it is to instill in our children right from wrong.

In the time scripture was written, and even still today, shepherds used various tools to guide their sheep. They use a staff, a crook, or a rod. The crook is the curved stick you see in cartoon depictions of shepherds. When sheep fall into a pit or lose sight of their flock, they look down. The curved end of the crook is used to pull the sheep’s head back up and guide it in the way it should go. In the same way, the rod is used to guide sheep who begin to splinter away from the flock back together. It can also be used defensively to keep the sheep safe from predators.

This Proverb, as with many proverbs and teachings of Jesus, teaches using a parable. It does not intend for children to be physically punished as the only means of correction. It refers to teaching them through guidance and appropriate discipline. Discipline, according to this PMC article , is about positively influencing behavior in children, not about punishing them. It says, “Discipline allows children to develop self-discipline, and helps them become emotionally and socially mature, secure adults.” It goes on to explain that effective discipline is that which is self-enhancing for the child. Leading children to self-discipline is congruent with Proverbs 22:6 , which says, “ Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.”

Proverbs 13:24 Meaning

John Gill's Exposition of the Bible gives an explanation of Proverbs 13:24 , "He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes." :

"but he that loveth him" - that has a true love for his son and a hearty concern for his welfare and future good; he will regulate his affections by his judgment and not give way to a fond passion, to the prejudice of his child:

"chasteneth him betimes," or "in the morning"; in the morning of his infancy, before vicious habits are contracted, or he is accustomed to sinning, and hardened in it; or as soon as a crime is perpetrated, before it is forgot or repeated: or every morning, as Jarchi and Aben Ezra; that is, continually, as often as it is necessary, or as faults are committed.

What does Scripture Say about ‘Sparing the Rod’

Proverbs 22:15 - Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline drives it far from him.

Proverbs 29:15 - The rod and reproof give wisdom, but a child left to himself brings shame to his mother.

Proverbs 23:13-14 - Do not withhold discipline from a child; if you strike him with a rod, he will not die. If you strike him with the rod, you will save his soul from Sheol.

Proverbs 19:18 - Discipline your son, for there is hope; do not set your heart on putting him to death.

Proverbs 22:6 - Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.

How Can Proverbs 13:24 Be Misinterpreted?

The most common misinterpretation of this scripture relates to “the rod of discipline.” Many view this as advice to physically punish children as the best, or only, form of discipline. “The rod” is the inspiration for other disciplinary tools like switches or belts. According to psychologist and Parenting by The Book author John Rosemond, “this misinterpretation is understandable, but reflects a wrongful application of the principles of Biblical interpretation.” There is often debate around this verse along with two others, but notice the trend in all of these is not a rod , but the rod :

Proverbs 13:24 - “Those who spare the rod hate their children, but those who love them are diligent to discipline them.”

Proverbs 22:15 - “Foolishness is bound in the heart of the child, but the rod  of discipline will drive it far from him.”

Proverbs 23:13 - “Do not withhold discipline from a child; if you punish him with the rod , he will not die.”

How Should Parents Apply Proverbs 13 ?

With the developments in research surrounding the importance of family bonds and emotional development, a current application of this verse might focus more on development rather than discipline alone. Consequences are necessary, but understanding why there are consequences is what ties it into development. Development encompasses more than just correcting bad behavior. It includes that, but the development mindset would incorporate other important factors, such as how our children learn and what is in them to cultivate.

The World Economic Forum states emotional intelligence will be a top 10 skill necessary for career advancement by 2020. To use “the rod” in this time is to cultivate awareness in our children. Awareness of their own feelings, as well as what might happen in others given certain situations. You may be thinking this is such a “soft” thing to say or that kids these days need a “backbone.” While I don’t disagree with that, consider that the Holy Spirit is a spirit of gentleness and kindness but also one of directness and purpose. The aim here is not to guide our children to “softness” but to a holy spirit-driven conscience, a higher awareness of self and others.

Lori Wildenberg gives a great guide to the foundational emotional needs of children and people in general in her 2016 Crosswalk article How to Grow Your Child’s Conscience . Through six stages leading up to maturity, she states it starts with us as the example. Our home is the place where empathy can be fostered, and empathy is a big component of conscience development. It is the key that makes us consider how actions, whether our own or something we witness, impact those around us. Skills in empathy and emotional intelligence not only help us in our careers but, more importantly, they help us in our purpose to love God and love others that Jesus charged us with in Matthew 22:36-40 .

How Should Christians Discipline According to the Bible?

You may also consider other proven alternatives to spanking, depending on the child’s age. Some of these alternatives include redirection (infants, early toddlers), timeout (early toddlers, Kindergarten to school-age), withdrawal of privileges, or reasoning (school-age to adolescents). While I understand the above may be a bit vague, the “right way” to discipline your child is known no better than by the parents. The key is having the right intention and motivation, as described in this section and referenced article.

In summary, “spare the rod, spoil the child” is Biblically supported through means of effective discipline but is not directly quoted in scripture. Though the phrase is actually found in a satirical article, some scriptures support that discipline is an exercise of love. Discipline is a vital piece of our emotional and social development, and when used with the proper intention, it helps children prosper in life. Effective discipline is a result of a healthy home environment where children feel safe and share mutual respect.

Effective discipline starts with us being healthy ourselves. If you had a rough childhood with questionable punishments, you hold the power to change the environment for your children. You are in charge of them having a different future. To be healthy ourselves, we must be connected to the vine as Jesus describes in John 15:5 . He says, “I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit.” Our purpose, direction, and emotional health come from spiritual principles and the good news is that even if you were not provided a healthy environment growing up yourself, you have the same access to the vine. You can get healthy now. This health translates into healthy parenting and healthy relationships for everyone you encounter. 

Photo credit: ©Thinkstock/LittleBee80

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Spare The Rod and Spoil The Child: Representations of Mothers in Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility

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Spare the Rod and Spoil the Child – Proverb Meaning, Expansion And Story

The proverb “spare the rod and spoil the child” suggests that if a parent or authority figure fails to discipline a child when necessary, the child will grow up undisciplined, spoiled, and lacking proper guidance. The phrase “spare the rod” refers to the absence of physical punishment, such as using a rod or stick for discipline. Instead, it implies that without consistent and appropriate discipline, a child’s behavior will worsen over time, leading to negative consequences in their development. The proverb emphasizes the importance of setting boundaries, providing structure, and administering discipline in raising well-behaved and responsible individuals.

Understanding The Idea :

The proverb “spare the rod and spoil the child” encompasses a broader concept of discipline and its impact on a child’s upbringing. It implies that discipline, in the form of appropriate guidance, correction, and consequences, is essential for a child’s healthy development.

Discipline serves as a crucial tool for instilling values, teaching responsibility, and shaping a child’s behavior. It involves setting clear boundaries, enforcing rules, and addressing inappropriate actions. When discipline is absent or inconsistent, a child may fail to understand the difference between right and wrong, leading to behavioral issues, entitlement, and a lack of self-control.

By employing discipline, parents and authority figures impart crucial life skills, such as self-discipline, resilience, and respect for others. It teaches children the importance of accountability and the consequences of their actions. Through discipline, children learn to navigate challenges, make informed choices, and develop a sense of personal responsibility.

However, it is essential to note that discipline does not imply harsh or excessive punishment. Rather, it emphasizes the need for fair and consistent consequences that align with the child’s age and understanding. Discipline should be accompanied by love, understanding, and open communication to create a supportive and nurturing environment.

Ultimately, the proverb highlights the significance of balanced discipline in a child’s upbringing. It warns against the dangers of overindulgence or neglecting to provide proper guidance, as these can lead to negative outcomes and hinder a child’s growth into a well-adjusted, responsible individual.

Story 1: A Beautiful Story on “spare the rod and spoil the child”

Once upon a time in a small village in India, there lived a young boy named Arjun. Arjun was known for his mischievous nature and his constant disregard for rules and authority. His parents, Mr. and Mrs. Verma, were kind-hearted and loving, but they struggled to discipline Arjun due to their belief that harsh punishment would negatively affect their relationship with him.

As Arjun grew older, his behavior worsened. He frequently skipped school, disobeyed his parents, and got involved in petty thefts with his unruly group of friends. Despite the villagers’ concerns, Mr. and Mrs. Verma continued to spare the rod and avoid disciplining their son.

One day, a wise old man named Rajesh arrived in the village. Rajesh had observed Arjun’s behavior and the ineffective approach his parents had taken. He decided to offer his guidance to the Verma family.

Rajesh sat down with Mr. and Mrs. Verma, explaining to them the significance of discipline in a child’s life. He shared stories of his own childhood, how his parents had balanced love with discipline, and how it had shaped him into a responsible and successful individual.

Intrigued by Rajesh’s insights, Mr. and Mrs. Verma realized that they needed to change their approach. They understood that sparing the rod had spoiled Arjun, leading to his reckless behavior and lack of respect for authority.

With Rajesh’s guidance, Mr. and Mrs. Verma implemented a new disciplinary approach. They established clear rules, set boundaries, and defined consequences for Arjun’s actions. At first, Arjun resisted the changes, but slowly he began to understand the importance of discipline and its positive impact on his life.

As time passed, Arjun’s behavior transformed. He started attending school regularly, stopped associating with his delinquent friends, and focused on his studies. With the consistent discipline provided by his parents, Arjun began to excel academically and regained the respect of his teachers and peers.

Arjun’s journey highlighted the proverb “spare the rod and spoil the child” in the Indian context. His parents’ initial leniency had only fueled his misbehavior, but their eventual realization that discipline was necessary helped steer him onto a better path. Through their firm yet loving approach, Arjun transformed from a spoiled child into a responsible and successful young man, proving the power of balanced discipline in shaping a child’s future.

Story 2: A Beautiful Story on “spare the rod and spoil the child”

In a bustling city in India, there lived a young girl named Aisha. Aisha was the only child of Mr. and Mrs. Sharma, a hardworking and disciplined couple. They believed in the importance of discipline and instilling good values in their daughter from an early age.

From a young age, Aisha was taught the value of hard work, honesty, and respect for elders. Her parents set clear rules and expectations for her behavior, ensuring that she understood the consequences of her actions. They believed that discipline was essential for her overall development.

Aisha’s parents encouraged her to pursue education and extracurricular activities, and they consistently guided and supported her. Whenever Aisha made a mistake, they would patiently explain the consequences and help her learn from them. Their discipline was always accompanied by love and encouragement, creating a nurturing environment for Aisha to grow.

As Aisha grew older, her disciplined upbringing began to bear fruit. She excelled in academics, displaying a thirst for knowledge and a strong work ethic. She was respectful towards her teachers and peers, and her impeccable manners earned her admiration from everyone around her.

Aisha’s disciplined approach extended beyond the classroom. She actively participated in community service initiatives, demonstrating empathy and compassion towards those in need. Her parents’ emphasis on discipline had helped shape her into a responsible, well-rounded individual.

In contrast, Aisha had a friend named Neha, who was raised with minimal discipline. Neha’s parents believed in giving her the freedom to make her own choices without consequences. Neha often skipped school, engaged in dishonest practices, and showed a lack of respect towards her elders.

As time passed, the stark differences between Aisha and Neha became apparent. While Aisha flourished in her endeavors, Neha struggled academically and faced disciplinary issues at school. She lacked a sense of responsibility and often found herself in trouble.

Observing the contrasting paths of Aisha and Neha, their parents’ approaches became evident. Aisha’s parents understood that sparing the rod and providing the right balance of discipline had helped her become a well-behaved and accomplished individual. On the other hand, Neha’s parents, by sparing the rod, had inadvertently spoiled her and hindered her personal growth.

The story of Aisha and Neha highlights the proverb’s significance in an Indian context. It emphasizes the role of discipline in shaping a child’s character, instilling values, and fostering a sense of responsibility. A balanced approach that combines discipline with love and guidance can lay the foundation for a child’s success and overall development.

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Spare The Rod and Spoil The Child.

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Spare the Rod, Spoil the Child?

A new perspective on discipline..

Posted November 16, 2017

“Power is of two kinds. One is obtained by the fear of punishment and the other by acts of love. Power based on love is a thousand times more effective and permanent then the one derived from fear of punishment.” — Mahatma Gandhi

At the heart of corporal punishment, is a desire to resolve, correct, or redirect the behavior of another, but does this justify the use of an ancient form of chastising? The longstanding argument for corporal punishment has been the parental right, religious ideological perspectives, and the right of the government to correct, rebuke or create physical consequences for negative attitudes, behaviors or actions.

Argumentatively, while there is undoubtedly a historical precedence that is in play; the argument for such correction has grown tired, weak and no longer justifies the use of corporal punishment.

The debate for corporal punishment has varied from religious instructions to parental rights. Corporal punishment has not only been excused by religious texts, familial familiarity, and governmental avoidance of change; it has been made allowable because of its longstanding relationship with society. “My father did not spare the rod, therefore I will not spare the rod.”

Parents, teachers and school administrators have frequently argued that there are no alternatives and/or that the alternatives are incapable of changing the mindset of a particular child. While understandably, some children are stronger willed than others; the truth is, all children will react favorably to methods that are constructive and positive. Most commonly, corporal punishment is enacted when a parental figure is no longer capable of managing his or her own emotional welfare.

THE ARGUMENT FOR CORPORAL PUNISHMENT

The Canadian Parliament Section 43 of the Criminal Code: Section 43 of the Criminal Code reads as follows: Every schoolteacher, parent or person standing in the place of a parent is justified in using force by way of correction toward a pupil or child, as the case may be, who is under his care, if the force does not exceed what is reasonable under the circumstance.

While the Canadian Parliament has ruled on the case of corporal punishment, the ruling on corporal punishment allows for a vague interpretation by those who are reading this decree. Furthermore, corporal punishment is neither abolished or rejected, but has been made excusable by the Government of Canada. “Corporal punishment remains a widely used discipline technique in most American (and Canadian) families, but it has also been a subject of controversy within the child development and psychological communities.” (Gershoff, 2002)

For many, corporal punishment has its foundational roots in religious and moral teachings. Furthermore, there are many who believe that they are spiritually instructed to use corporal punishment as a form of discipline.

An example of this allowable form punishment finds its acceptability in religious texts such as Proverbs 13:24 of the King James Bible. The verse states:

“He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes” ~ Proverbs 13:24, King James Version

In North America, corporal punishment remains a norm within our society. “A poll conducted by The Huffington Post and YouGov found that 81 percent of 1,000 adults polled believe that spanking with a hand should be legal, and almost half think it’s an effective form of discipline.” (Samakow, 2014) The most common argument in favor of corporal punishment is a parental approach reflecting upon his or her own childhood punishment and the ideological perspective that it helped mold them.

DEFINING CORPORAL PUNISHMENT

What is corporal punishment? Corporal punishment is any form of correction that involves physical retribution. Corporal punishment may include: switching, spanking, caning, slapping, chastising, paddling or flogging. Moreover, the use of negative language and name calling has become an acceptable addition to corporal punishment.

Corporal punishment has long been considered an acceptable form of discipline by parents, teachers, principals and other authorities, but the time has come that we must consider alternative avenues for raising up our children. As a society, we have learned to justify our lack of creative alternatives by the use of corporal punishment.

DO WE REALLY NEED CORPORAL PUNISHMENT?

“Instead of yelling and spanking, which don’t work anyway, I believe in finding creative ways to keep their attention - turning things into a game, for instance. And, when they do something good, positive reinforcement and praise.” ~ Patricia Richardson

Let’s consider the following questions:

• Why are you attached to the use of corporal punishment?
• Do you feel that you are incapable of disciplining your child without it?
• Do you feel that the use of corporal punishment is an individual right?
• Have you been taught to use corporal punishment by a religious leader or religious teaching?
• Why have you chosen to use corporal punishment as a means for correcting negative behaviors, attitudes or perceptions?

Research has shown that a majority of adults use corporal punishment before considering alternative approaches to discipline.

When have you chosen to use corporal punishment? Have you chosen to use corporal punishment in the raising of your children? If so, were you emotionally frustrated, angry or simply without alternative methods of discipline?

THE EXCUSES BEHIND CORPORAL PUNISHMENT

“Spanking a child is about the parent not the child. The child will learn more from positive correction than physical manipulation.”

~ Asa Don Brown, Canadian Counsel. & Psych. Assoc.

Corporal punishment is most commonly used by frustrated adults. The typical excuse for exercising one’s rights to use corporal punishment is:

• My child left me no alternative.
• If I love my child, then I will discipline my child (spank them).
• I am commanded to spank my child.
• I personally benefitted from being spanked.
• My respect for my parents is derived from my own personal journey with discipline.
• My child forced my hand.
• “People get frustrated and hit their kids. Maybe they don’t see there are other options.” (Smith, 2012, p. 60)

If corporal punishment is an effective alternative for disciplining children, then why not permit the use of corporal punishment on adults? The argument could be made that an employee lying or cheating should be spanked, flogged or severely reprimanded for his or her dishonesty.

Perhaps we should reinstate corporal punishment in the police force. Could you imagine receiving a spanking the next time you are caught speeding or forgetting to wear your seatbelt?

Perhaps the judicial system should reinstate the use of corporal punishment.

Moreover, maybe we should make it permissible for a spouse to spank his or her cheating partner. Should your spouse be provided the right to discipline you with a paddle; the next time you forget to take out the trash or do the dishes?

Perhaps we should even consider employing corporal punishment for the disorderly rich and famous, and our governing bodies. Why not, if it is good for chastising a child, then why not employee it in all aspects of society? Why not even consider returning to an age of using stoning and the severing of hands?

Of course, you may think I am being simply preposterous, running my lips in a hyperbole forum, but I beg you to consider the basis of this argument. If corporal punishment is permissible among the youth of our society, then why not consider employing such a corrective tool throughout the whole spectrum of society?

Furthermore, the Canadian Foundation For Children, Youth and The Law v. Canada (Attorney General) have made a continued argument for the enforcement or allowability of corporal discipline, only among those who are the most innocent of our society.

On 30 January 2004, the Supreme Court of Canada released its decision in the case of Canadian Foundation for Children, Youth and the Law v. Canada (Attorney General). The issue was whether s. 43 unconstitutional. Six of nine justices concluded that the provision does not violate the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, as it does not infringe a child’s rights to security of a person or a child’s rights to equality, and it does not constitute cruel and unusual treatment or punishment.

My argument is, if it “does not infringe a child’s rights to security of a person or a child’s rights to equality,” then why not have true equality by making corporal punishment permissible throughout the entire spectrum of society?

WHAT ARE THE ALTERNATIVES?

“The greatest mark of a father is how he treats his children when no one is looking.” ~ Dan Pearce

Let’s consider the following: what measures have been taken to correct an employee who fails to meet the expectations of his or her employer? Perhaps we should use corporal punishment when an employee is being insubordinate and disobedient. Why not harshly rebuke these insubordinate employees, by implementing a stern reprimand followed up with a good ol’ fashion paddling? Again, you may think of me as being utterly absurd, but my argument remains; there are alternatives to all forms of corporal punishment. Whether an employee or a child, there are alternatives to implementing and excusing the use of corporal punishment.

If corporal punishment is not permissible in the workplace, then why have we made it permissible to be used in the educational systems, and most importantly, the sanctity of the home?

If there are alternatives to the enforcement of corporal punishment in the workplace, then should there not be made alternate forms of correction in the home and school?

As in the workplace, alternative punishment or correction will not occur without consideration and constructive dialogue. As a society, we owe it to our children to devise a plan of action that is constructive ( serving a useful purpose ), instructive ( useful and informative ), edifying ( providing moral or intellectual instruction) , supportive ( providing encouragement or emotional help ), corrective ( designed to correct or counteract something harmful or undesirable ) and directional ( relating to or indicating the direction in which someone or something is situated, moving, or developing ).

THE ARGUMENT AGAINST CORPORAL PUNISHMENT

“We need to understand the difference between discipline and punishment. Punishment is what you do to someone; discipline is what you do for someone.” ~ Zig Ziglar

Even in the academic world, there is no tolerance for a child hitting or physically lashing out at a fellow student or teacher. In fact, in a majority of public school systems, not only could the child be expelled indefinitely; but the probability of legal repercussions is quite high.

For many school systems, there is absolutely no tolerance for disruptive behaviors, much less aggravated assault or threats of assault. Even if, a child were to verbally threaten the action of assault, they could be immediately apprehended by authority and they could be tried as an adult in many jurisdictions. If our school and legal systems no longer tolerate even the utterance of a threat by a child, then why do we permit a parent or an adult to physical harm or utter threats of harm towards our children? A threat is a threat and harm is harm.

Yet, there remains 19 states that permit some form of corporal punishment in the public school systems. Why is it that we continue to allow corporal punishment to be used in our schools; however, we have strict guidelines on child conduct and behavior. Is there really a difference between a child acting out aggressively and an adult physically punishing a child?

Permitting Corporal Punishment

Who should be made responsible for setting the standards of corporal punishment? Who should be permitted to decide what is allowable and what is not? Should parents be provided a standard, and if so, then who will be made responsible for setting such a standard?

The Canadian Parliament and many US States have vague interpretations of what is permissible and allowable in the home and in the public school sector.

Why is it illegal and a violation of an adult’s civil rights to be struck by another adult? Why is it not permissible to hit your spouse? employer? employee? neighbor?

Why have we made it permissible for an adult to strike a child? Whether or not, a governing body could devise a permissible set of standards, the truth is, striking any individual, whether young or old should be a violation of human rights. “(Even) on the international front, physical discipline is increasingly being viewed as a violation of children’s human rights.” (Smith, 2012, 60)

The following is an example whereby a child’s rights were egregiously violated. “The first swat knocked [my son] down ... when he fell, the principal said he had five seconds to get back up, or he’d start all over again ... it probably took him a minute and a half to get up again. They gave him two more swats. Then the principal had to go to the nurse’s office to get the asthma inhaler, [my son] couldn’t breathe ... When he came home from school, my wife found the marks on him. … He had severe bruising on his buttocks and on his lower back. His butt was just covered.” (Adwar, 2014)

The previous discourse is not an uncommon case for communities that have made corporal punishment legal. Why should a child be scolded for striking a fellow student; if they themselves are allowed to be struck by an adult for misbehaving?

• “It perpetuates a cycle of child abuse. It teaches children to hit someone smaller and weaker when angry.
• Injuries occur. Bruises are common. Broken bones are not unusual. Children's deaths have occurred... due to school corporal punishment.
• Corporal punishment is used much more often on poor children, minorities, children with disabilities, and boys.
• Schools are the only institutions in America (and Canada) in which striking another person is legally sanctioned. It is not allowed in prisons, in the military or in mental hospitals.
• Educators and school boards are sometimes sued when corporal punishment is used in their schools.
• Schools that use corporal punishment often have poorer academic achievement, more vandalism, truancy, pupil violence and higher drop out rates.
• Corporal punishment is often not used as a last resort. It is often the first resort for minor misbehaviors.
• Many alternatives to corporal punishment have proven their worth. Alternatives teach children to be self-disciplined rather than cooperative only because of fear.” (CED, 2014)

“The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) is the most ratified human rights treaty... It is the first international human rights binding instrument to expressly address the protection of children from violence. Article 19 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child requires states to take: ‘all appropriate legislative, administrative, social and educational measures to protect the child from all forms of physical or mental violence, injury or abuse, neglect or negligent treatment, maltreatment or exploitation, including sexual abuse , while in the care of parent(s), legal guardian(s) or any other person who has the care of the child” (COE, 2014)

The use of corporal punishment has no effective behavioral features. In fact, there is no substantive evidence or research to support the use of corporal punishment. Furthermore, whether the use corporal punishment is being used in an academic environment or a familial domain; it has no positive constructive benefit or feature for those enduring this type of behavioral intervention.

Healthy Communication and Discipline

For many children, when they are acting out, they are poorly communicating or feeling unheard. As parents and adults, we need to do our best to know and to actively listen to our child. If we know our child, then we will have an ability to communicate with our child. Healthy communication is one of the best approaches to offering corrective and constructive discipline. Healthy discipline occurs when the child is gaining a positive perspective on a negative choice or decision that they have made.

DISCIPLINE WITH UNCONDITIONAL LOVE

“What I love most about fatherhood is the opportunity to be a part of the development process of a new life.” ~ Seal

Always be certain to employ an unconditional spirit of love with discipline. If you are forced to discipline, do it in a manner that is respectful, dignified, and loving. As a parent, you may ask your child to participate in his or her discipline, rather than disciplining with an iron fist. A parent does not have to “use the rod” to discipline, correct, or redirect his or her child. In fact, we should remove the word discipline from our vocabulary, replacing it with the word GUIDANCE . If we are guiding our children, then we are offering positive advice, direction, and/or information that is aimed at resolving a problem or personal challenge.

BE RESOURCEFUL, STUDIOUS AND DILIGENT

“I believe that there is no longer any use for corporal punishment in schools and much to be gained by suppressing it.” ~ B. F. Skinner

As a father, mother, teacher, or school administrator, do not fear being limited in your information. Be diligent and extremely conscientious when you are considering the methods with which you intend on discipling (or GUIDING ) a child. Always remember that you are guiding them away from destructive paths, down paths that enrich the person’s character and overall wellbeing. Do everything within your means to be an informed parent.

As parents and adults, we should seek constructive information, education , and skills. Consider acquiring the services of a professional therapist, counselor, or psychologist. Do not fear feeling inadequate as a parent, teacher or administrator, because we are all limited.

The bottom line is, “the goal of discipline (or GUIDANCE ), which actually comes from the Latin root meaning ‘to teach,’ is to change behavior. And physical discipline across many, many, many studies is ineffective at changing behavior and it’s ineffective for many reasons ... corporal punishment actually teaches children is that aggression is an acceptable method of problem solving.”

PERSONAL CONTROL

The problem is, few people discipline their children while in control or without prejudice . In most cases, the parent is fed up, exhausted, and personally agitated by a childhood act. When an individual is personally and emotionally involved, the situation can prove volatile in the best of circumstances. Good people make mistakes. Why then, would we encourage a recipe for plausible and considerable harm?

PERCEPTION OF CONTROL

For many individuals, they perceive themselves as having or being in control. The truth is, research has shown that the loss of personal self-control increases when under pressure or personal distress.

While corporal punishment has been used for a variety of purposes, it’s primary roots stems from a religious background.

While many claim that spanking is not a form of beating, it’s this fine line that many cross. A recent case resulted in a young child losing her life. Parent’s Kevin and Elizabeth Schatz followed the instructions set out in a book called, “To Train Up a Child” by author Michael Pearl. The Schatz’s were spanking their children, Lydia and Zariah, when Lydia perished from the severe spanking. The problem is, they spanked to create pain in order to reinforce a discipline. Obviously, the Schatz’s perception of control was lost during this spanking session.

The good news is, there are many alternatives to spanking. While we continue to live in a society that permits corporal punishment; the alternatives are increasing and the knowledge of child behavior is as well.

Everyone on this planet can and would reap from a personal timeout.

Parents and children should both receive timeouts. The parent should accept a timeout to cool down and refocus ensuring personal control. The child should be given a timeout based on his/her age. If your child is 5, then your child should receive a 5 minute time-out. It’s a minute per year of life: 5 years (x) 1 minute = 5 minutes. Again, placing a child into timeout ensures that the parent can retool and prepare to positively reengage.

Be creative, inventive, resourceful, and proactive. Discuss the matter of discipline ( GUIDANCE ) with your child. Ask your child what he/she feels would be a good consequence for his/her behavior or attitude. Consider looking online for information from legitimate sites and resources: American Psychological Association; Center for Effective Discipline; Project No Spank; etc. You may consider gaining advice from those who have found alternative means to corporal punishment. Consider brainstorming with other parents, the school, and/or friends who have children of a similar age.

Be a Proactive Parent

Always reaffirm your child's goodness and abilities. Avoid using negative images or language when guiding your child. Be certain to regularly communicate with your child. Always use your active listening skills when interacting with your child. Refrain from using language that stresses hate, resentment, anger, or intolerance. Most importantly, children need a familial environment that is safe, caring, nurturing, and unconditionally accepting and loving.

Furthermore, it is okay to disclose your disappointment in your child’s behaviors or attitudes, but it is never okay to make a child feel as though they are a bad person or worthless. As a parent, we are our children’s greatest advocate and ally. A child's wellbeing is ultimately placed into your hands. If you breach their right to safety and wellbeing, then you are ultimately placing your child's life in harm’s way.

Consider the following

Are you proving an advocate for your child? Are you instilling good parenting techniques and qualities in the life of your child? Have you chosen to be a positively influential role model? Parenting has no concrete absolutes, but as a person you should seek to grow and positively influence your children. As parents, we will undoubtedly make mistakes, but it is prudent that you forgive yourself and move forward. Good parents make mistakes, but seek to learn from their mistakes.

Whether you are a parent, teacher or administrator; be resourceful and ask for help. We should all be searching for constructive information and alternative methods to providing guidance for our child. Always have an attitude of diligence and a desire to be punctilious.

Child rearing is a directional role, thus we should be guiding in a way that inspires others to follow positive pathways. If I am acting in a conscientious way, then I will have a deep desire and heartfelt yearning to do that with which is right and constructive.

Always remember, that “ It Takes a Village to Raise a Child ."

Asa Don Brown is an author, speaker and clinical psychologist.

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English Essay, Paragraph, Speech on “Spare the rod and spoil the child” 150 Words Essay for Class 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 Students.

Spare the rod and spoil the child

This is an old-time saying and represents the ideology based on violence. It is criminal to beat a defenseless child. Psychological research has proved that punishment in any form cripples the personality of the child, Crime is born when force is used to suppress natural emotions. It often results in neurosis in later years. It has been found in practice that only those, who have themselves been treated unkindly in childhood, advocate this dictum. Those who have their reason for them know that to use the rod is to spoil the child. Examples can be heaped to prove that the use of rods has been harmful and there would be not a single instance to show that the use of rods ever brought more than temporary advantages.

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Meaning of spare the rod and spoil the child in English

Spare the rod and spoil the child.

• ankle bracelet
• ball and chain
• be brought/called to account idiom
• endorsement
• fixed penalty
• flay someone alive idiom
• get what's coming to you idiom
• gross misconduct
• skin someone alive idiom
• someone should be shot idiom
• sort something out

Translations of spare the rod and spoil the child

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Spare The Rod And Spoil The Child Essay

Raising an Obedient Child “Don’t Spare the rod and spoil the child. ” We have all heard that before, as a child I heard it a lot. I was not the most well behaved child, so I got into plenty of trouble. My mom hated my temper tantrums. When I was little, she disciplined me, and now I am a well behaved young adult who knows right from wrong. Discipline is a way of teaching a child how to do what is right while growing up.

There are multiple ways to discipline a child and make him/her behave.

I feel that it is very important to begin to isciplining children when they are young so they know what is expected of them. it gives them a better sense of right and wrong while growing up once a child has reached his/her teenage years it is too late to begin the discipline process. If parents begin early, I believe that the most effective ways of disciplining children are timeout, taking away privileges, talking to the child, and, as a last resort, and spanking.

Putting a child in timeout is effective if the parent is consistent with doing so.

In the article “Should You Give Your Child Timeouts,” Phelan and Lynn state, “when well xecuted, timeout will help teach the rule, and gives kids a break away from the inappropriate behavior and its triggers. ” I have witnessed consistent use of timeout with my nieces. With one, it takes several times for her to fgure out what she is doing wrong and that she is not supposed to continue doing so.

Proficient in: Child

“ Very organized ,I enjoyed and Loved every bit of our professional interaction ”

My other niece learns after the first time out. Consistency is the key to a successful discipline method and discipline is the key to a successful child.

If timeouts do not seem to be beneficial, other methods may be enforced. Privileges for a child are something that he/she earns when he/she behaves. If that is the case, why not take privileges away when the child behaves badly? I feel it teaches the same lesson that timeouts do, but it is a little more intense. As a child, when I got a new toy it was because I was being good and mom was proud, but if I began to act ugly or throw another one of my many tantrums, she would take my toy away. To make this method work my mom did not Just take any toy; she took my favorite toy, which made me behave so I could get it back.

Spanking Punishment Generator

Once I realized that throwing tantrums made my mom take my favorite toy, I got the concept of good behavior. I admit it is a work in progress because some children do not get it the first time but it does get easier and better. Talking to a child is important as well as discipline. When a child misbehaves, sitting her down and talking to her is also another good method of teaching discipline. It is not like taking privileges or using timeout, but it can definitely work on children. In the article “Talk it Out Works Better than Timeout,”

Mari-Jane Williams explains that “you’re missing an opportunity to sit down and say to your kids, ‘how well did that work for you? ” She also mentions self-assessment and how it is more important to a child’s mental and emotional health. In my opinion, as the aunt of three nephews and four nieces, talking to the misbehaving child can work and be a positive experience for both the parent and the child. It gives the parent a chance to tell the chil d that his actions are unacceptable and that he can no longer continue to behave in that manner.

In my own experience, it is harder to use the alking method with my nephews, but a lot easier with my nieces. I feel it may be harder for a parent to talk to boys because they tend to be more stubborn than girls. Although boys react differently, parents should still talk to them as they talk to girls. Physical punishment, I feel, is Just as effective as any other discipline method. Spanking a child is more of a last resort when he/she is misbehaving. As I stated earlier in the essay, I threw temper tantrums when I did not get what I wanted and my mother took away privileges.

That method was not always effective with me, and I nded up getting multiple spankings. In the article “The Real Spanking Debate” John Hoffman says that mfou could show me an impeccable study that proves beyond a shadow of doubt that a good and proper mild spanking doesn’t harm kids. ” I completely agree with this statement because I experienced plenty of spankings and I am perfectly fine and well behaved with no discipline or anger problems. In conclusion, disciplining your child is very effective but, it depends on how consistent parents are with doing so.

Timeouts, taking away privileges, talking, and pankings are all ways that I feel are effective ways of turning a disobedient child into a well behaved child who follows the rules. All of my experiences with disciplining and being disciplined have been effective, if not with all the methods, at least with one of them. When I become a parent I will use these same methods for my children. Hopefully as a mom I will not go through what my mom went through with me, maybe it will be easier. Work Cited Williams, Mari Jane. “Talk-lt-out Works better than timeout. ” Washington Post 3 Oct. 2013. Opposing viewpoints in context. Web. 13 Nov. 2013

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Essay, Paragraph, Speech on “Spare the Rod and Spoil the Child ” Complete English Essay for Class 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, Graduation classes.

Spare the Rod and Spoil the Child  

This statement stresses the need of physical punishment to children in order to keep them on the right track. But the question arises if it is a right method to correct the children. Children are after all not criminals. It is absolutely wrong, and psychologically too, to use a rod for erring children. Physical punishment is no remedy to reform the children. On the contrary it kills their delicate feelings. They become used to physical punishment and grow to be hard-skinned. Physical punishment is a brute force. It compels them to fall into our line of thinking though they remain unconvinced in their heart of hearts. To use physical force against them is to take undue advantage of their physical weakness. Nobody would dare use physical force if they were physically strong and could hit back. It is their helplessness which we exploit when we give them physical punishment. Children who are spoilt can be prevailed upon otherwise also. Instead of using the logic of force, we should use the force of logic to bring them around.

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• What the <i>Black Twitter</i> Docuseries Gets Wrong

What the  Black Twitter  Docuseries Gets Wrong

B lack Twitter will not save us for what’s to come. As the days towards the 2024 presidential election draw near and the rage-filled screams of college students fill the halls of the nation’s most prestigious institutions, the United States finds itself at a crossroads. Will the most powerful country in the world revert back to when Donald Trump won the White House, or will we vote for Joe Biden to maintain his stronghold? This is the question that every American must answer before and on November 5.

If the everyday American (specifically the everyday Black American) was undecided about which candidate to vote for, it only takes one watch of Black Twitter: A People’s History , a three part docuseries based on journalist Jason Parham’s 2021 WIRED article “ A People’s History of Black Twitter ,” to understand that we must vote for Biden.

The series attempts to archive, document, and chronicle the force that is known as Black Twitter, two words that have been used to characterize Black digital life on the social media platform. It’s a platform that the series will remind you was not created by Black people, but brought into prominence by the attitudes, mannerisms, and behaviors of Black users on Twitter. But despite incessant commentary about how Black people are not a monolith, the docuseries—in its attempt to associate the Black Twitter community with an era that supposedly no longer exists—ultimately treats Black Twitter as such.

Creation is at the core of the series’ story. The words of Amiri Baraka’s " Technology & Ethos " essay are repeated and paraphrased throughout the three-part series in a fashion similar to a mother reading her child’s favorite tall tale before tucking them into bed. The essay opens with the following: “Machines (as Norbert Weiner said) are an extension of their inventor-creators. That is not simple once you think. Machines, the entire technology of the West, is just that, the technology of the West.” Baraka continues: “Nothing has to look or function the way it does. The West man’s freedom, unscientifically got at the expense of the rest of the world’s people, has allowed him to xpand his mind–spread his sensibility wherever it cdgo, & so shaped the world, & its powerful artifact-engines.”

The next line is where Black Twitter, or more broadly the relationship between Black people and technology, come into play. “Political power is also the power to create—not only what you will—but to be freed to go where ever you can go—(mentally physically as well). Black creation—creation powered by the Black ethos brings very special results.”

In the case of both Twitter the platform and also Twitter the company—where Black people acquired leadership positions at one of the fastest growing tech companies in the world, used their presence online to enact change in the areas of racial justice and police reform, and increased diversity and representation from Hollywood to Silicon Valley and everywhere in between—what did those very special results bring? That answer is complicated, and one that the docuseries tries to grapple with but falls short.

As seen in the series, #OscarsSoWhite corrected a decades long practice of exclusion by the Academy and created opportunities for actors of color to receive membership into the voting body that decides the Oscars. In the nine years since the hashtag’s creation, gradual efforts were made towards greater representation on screen. Yet, the subsequent mass exodus of women of color in Hollywood leadership positions and the low number of films directed by women and people of color seems to contradict the docuseries’ overarching narrative of a hashtag's singular impact. Yes, the hashtag narrative as an idiom to bring forth change is powerful, but the counter response to them is just as telling.

The most blatant example of this is the #BlackLivesMatter portion of the docuseries. The docuseries chronicles the pivotal role Twitter played in the rise of citizen journalism, particularly during the murders of Trayvon Martin, Michael Brown and Eric Garner. It also looks at the creation of #SayHerName, a social media response to the erasure of Black women, such as Sandra Bland, and Black trans women, like Mya Hall, who lost their lives to police violence, but were often overlooked by the male-centered BLM movement.

This is where Baraka is felt the most: Black creators have harnessed the power of technology, in order to counteract the West’s political power, which puts them in danger of losing their lives. Minute after minute, frame after frame, the docuseries asks the viewer to bear witness to the ways in which Black Twitter, through the creation and utilization of hashtags, on-the-ground reporting, and 24/7 news coverage, has long been victimized by police violence.

But like Baraka said, the machine is an extension of its inventor-creator, and the creator, or in this case the executive producers of the docuseries, have a hand in its invention. It's a creation that feels foreign to those who birthed and have maintained Black Twitter as a living and breathing cultural archive of Black digital life. A life that has no singular partisan belief or political agenda. A life that, in many ways, bites the hand of the docuseries creators. It’s a hand that delicately weaves the ascension of Barack Obama to the presidency with the birth and rise of Black Twitter. The two are in a covenant of holy matrimony.

Just ask Brad Jenkins, former associate director of the White House Office of Public Engagement, who frequently appears throughout the docuseries. Or Carri Twigg, the former Associate Director of Public Engagement of the White House, who serves as one of the series’ executive producers. There is no direct mention that the Black Lives Matter movement started under the Obama administration—or acknowledgment of the overwhelming collective action by Black students at the University of Missouri during that time, as well as the solidarity actions that occurred across college campuses in the U.S.

The series goes on to connect the rise of misinformation, the proliferation of Russian bots, and the 2016 election of Donald Trump as a reaction to the Obama presidency and Black Twitter. In fact, the series’ somber moments—where anti-Black sentiment is seen in reports of algorithms being altered to increase traffic towards users that display racist and misogynistic behaviors online, and clips of white women calling the police to inflict harm and violence on Black people for simply living — are linked to the Trump portion of the series. But that is ahistorical in and of itself because Black women have been calling attention to the ways in which they are subjected to anti-Black violence and harassment online since the 1990s . BBQ Becky is just Carolyn Bryant by another name.

Read More: Twitter Offers More Transparency on Racist Abuse by Its Users, but Few Solutions

If the Obama years of Black Twitter were fun, the docuseries posits, the Trump years of Black Twitter were hell. From the COVID-19 pandemic to the global uprisings over the deaths of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, the year 2020 within the docuseries is marked by culture shifts towards violence, including the misogynoir Megan Thee Stallion experienced online after she came forward about being physically assaulted by Tory Lanez. The year is also peppered with glimmers of a Black Twitter of yesteryear: a communal moment of gathering to live tweet “Verzuz” challenges or to watch The Last Dance as a family. Communal moments that are thought to be associated with the Obama administration.

And just like that, the docuseries pivots to showcase the Black voters in South Carolina, who are thanked for their votes for Biden in the 2020 election. Biden is even described as Obama’s right hand man. It is in this moment that the series wants the audience to remember the joy of the Obama years, the hope of the Obama years, and most importantly, the impact of Black voters in the Obama years.

I do not mean to spoil the climax of the 2020 section of the docuseries, but Biden won and Elon Musk replaced Trump as the villain of the series. Musk’s acquisition of Twitter, now known as X, is met with despair, exodus, and rage. Efforts to humble and humiliate Musk are flashed across the screen as former Black employees at Twitter in one-on-one interviews discuss the destruction of their years of labor and hard work to diversify the platform. Black academics, celebrities, and personalities lament as they say a goodbye to the good days of Twitter. Mastodon, BlueSky, Spill, LinkedIn, and of course TikTok are depicted as places of solace for Black users who feel unwelcome on X. (X has since eliminated any protections for marginalized and disenfranchised users on the platforms.)

Four years after the election of Biden to the presidency and with the forthcoming election looming, the series bids Black Twitter adieu with the foresight that Black people will always continue to innovate, despite not being given the tools or resources to create. This is exemplified by a reference to soul food, and a call to action to create our own archives—the thesis of Black Twitter: A People’s History.

But what Black Twitter fails to realize—and simply can’t capture—is that we are not in 2008 anymore. Or 2012. Or 2020. The Obama coalition is dead. The Biden coalition is falling apart by the day and culturally resonant programming falls flat compared to the citizen-led reporting that is coming to life in front of our very eyes. Just look at the actions of the student journalists at WKCR , the Columbia University radio station that covered the raid of Hamilton Hall by the New York Police Department. Or the wave of anti-war protests by Black students at HBCUs. Guess where these students learned how to organize from? Black Twitter. They’re not just archiving their own stories—they’re creating them.

But that’s the flaw of content like this. It doesn’t have the capacity to capture the legacy of a movement because it’s a movement that isn't over. It is still unfurling—still morphing and coming to life in front of our very eyes. These are children who came of age on Black Twitter. They’re still using those tools to make us laugh, to inspire change, to create community.

If there is anyone who will save us (and in turn, if there’s anything worth saving), it's them. Not Black Twitter.

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Wisconsin drops ID checks at federally funded food pantries

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• The state Department of Health Services is changing procedures for the 265 Wisconsin food pantries that participate in The Emergency Food Assistance Program, which provides certain healthy foods that pantry donations don’t always cover.
• The state previously required workers at those pantries to check IDs of every person in a household and verify the person lived in the pantry’s county. The new rules — designed to improve food access — do not allow pantries to ask for identification or verify addresses.
• Some pantry directors support the change. Others fear they could create local food shortages. Some wonder how to accommodate a potential influx of out-of-county clients and track important demographic information.
• State officials say no problems have been identified in the 35 other states that already lack identification requirements.

Wisconsin’s emergency food pantries can now decide whether to check clients’ identification and verify their addresses. By October, the state will require them to stop asking. 

The change will improve access to a key federal program, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services said. Some pantry coordinators support the changes, but others counter that it could complicate their work. They say the state has yet to answer important questions.

Several coordinators voiced concerns when the health department last month announced changes that affect 265 state food pantries that accept food from The Emergency Food Assistance Program, or TEFAP. The federally funded program provides healthy foods that pantry donations don’t always cover, including milk, eggs, meat, fresh fruits and vegetables. Most participating pantries rely on the program for a significant amount of their food.

The overhaul comes as demand for emergency food surges following the expiration of extra FoodShare benefits during the pandemic. 

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The state previously required pantry workers to check IDs of every person in a household and verify the person lived in the pantry’s county. While pantries made exceptions for certain vulnerable groups with less access to IDs and fixed addresses, requesting that information creates unnecessary obstacles to food, supporters of the change say.

“We want to make sure people have an equitable and dignified way to receive food and we feel like the less information gathering in that regard that’s allowable, the better,” a health department spokesperson said.

With the change, Wisconsin joins 35 other states, including neighboring Minnesota, Illinois and Michigan, where TEFAP pantries don’t ask for ID.

Some anti-hunger advocates say eliminating ID checks could create local food shortages. Others support the change but worry about how to accommodate a potential influx of out-of-county clients and track demographic information about their visitors.

‘A horrible feeling’ to be turned away

Emma Tomberlin started experiencing homelessness in Madison 10 years ago. Someone stole her ID at the time, and she couldn’t afford a replacement, she said. 

She didn’t realize a local pantry would ask for identification before distributing food and hygiene products. After coordinating a ride one day and waiting in line, she said, the pantry turned her away.

“To realize that I was not worthy of food because I didn’t have an ID, and to be told that and to be turned away hungry, is just a horrible feeling,” Tomberlin said. 

She moved into her own apartment about two years ago, but she’s still not sure she could gather the paperwork the pantry’s website says it requires.

Under the previous state requirements, Wisconsin’s emergency pantries would still serve people without proper documentation during initial visits but, in rare cases, might block those who repeatedly returned without verifying their address. Unhoused people, undocumented immigrants and survivors of domestic abuse had additional leeway, guaranteeing service even on repeat visits without full documentation.

But perceptions matter just as much as procedure when it comes to food access, said Joli Guenther, executive director of the Wisconsin Association for Homeless and Runaway Services. She supports the eased state requirements.

Asking for an ID might discourage people most in need from showing up, Guenther said.

“We do want food pantries to be as low barrier as possible because that’s such an immediate need.”

Fears of food shortages

TEFAP makes emergency food aid available to households who make no more than twice the federal poverty level. That’s $40,880 annually for a two-person household.

Even before the latest changes, clients could self-declare their income without bringing proof. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, the state required pantries to collect client signatures attesting to their eligibility. Safety concerns during the pandemic halted the requirements, although some pantries later resumed collecting signatures. 

That included Milwaukee-based Hunger Task Force, an anti-hunger nonprofit that relies on TEFAP for about half of its food bank supply. The signature requirement discouraged people from untruthfully claiming eligibility or inflating their household size — increasing the likelihood that food would go to people most in need, Hunger Task Force CEO Sherrie Tussler said.

Pantries may no longer collect such signatures under the state changes. That will make it virtually impossible to stop people from taking food they don’t need, Tussler contends.

“It’s completely ungoverned,” Tussler said. “Nobody’s answering the question, what’s really going to happen when we have food shortages?”

State officials don’t expect that to happen. The state health department found no shortages in surrounding states that lack identification and signature requirements, a spokesperson said.

Channel One Regional Food Bank, which serves residents of 13 Minnesota counties and Wisconsin’s La Crosse County, has faced no issues abiding by an honor system in Minnesota, said Virginia Witherspoon, its executive director.

“This truly gets down to what you believe about people, and if you believe that people are trying to take advantage of a system,” she said. “We don’t see that.” 

Among supporters of loosened identification requirements: Melissa Larson, food access and resource program manager at West CAP, which serves seven western Wisconsin counties.

In small-town pantries like West CAP’s, workers already know their clients on a first-name basis, and ID checks only create obstacles.

“In a rural area, it’s completely different,” Larson said.

Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin, which operates pantries in rural, urban and suburban areas of northeast Wisconsin and around Milwaukee, also welcomes the changes.

“We expect that the good this program will accomplish, the new enrollments and access this would facilitate, the increased ease of distribution, and the increased dignity and compassion this would provide to the participant will greatly outweigh the potential risk,” John Zhang, the organization’s director of community and government relations, told WPR and Wisconsin Watch in an email.

Expanded options for pantry clients  

Ryan Rasmussen, executive director of the Oshkosh Area Community Pantry, doesn’t expect people to start taking food they don’t need. 

“We get this question asked a lot about, ‘How many folks do you think are actually taking advantage of your pantry?’ And quite honestly, my response is zero,” he said.

But Rasmussen worries the revised guidelines will increase visits from outside of Winnebago County.

The federal government distributes emergency foods to pantries based on local poverty and unemployment rates. New state rules will allow clients to regularly visit any pantry statewide — even if it lies outside of their home county.

Rasmussen sees the potential for mismatches between resources and demands on some pantries during a time of growing demand.

While health department officials see no evidence that the new guidelines will spur a spike in cross-county visits, they will explore other food distribution models if issues arise, a spokesperson said.

Oshkosh Area Community Pantry saw a 70% increase in usage between 2022 and 2023, Rasmussen said. The pantry last year served 800 households from outside of Winnebago County. Workers then could refer those clients to options in their home county for future visits — easing demands on local resources, Rasmussen said. 

“The need is definitely growing and it’s definitely great,” Rasmussen said. “We’re doing all that we can to make sure that we stay ahead of it.” 

For Kenneth Tackett, two monthly visits to the Oshkosh pantry cover most of his needs, and there’s no reason to visit other pantries. 

“It’s where I get my bread, vegetables, potatoes, meat,” he said. “I feel blessed to have the availability to be able to do something like this.”

Federal aid important for many pantries

Most pantries rely on a mixture of TEFAP, food banks, grocery stores and donations. The federal program was an important source of food for 89% of pantries participating in the program, according to a state health department survey. 

Nearly a quarter of participating pantries get most or all of their food from the federal program, the survey showed. Most participants call the program’s food “very healthy.” 

The state health department says loosening restrictions for pantry visitors might expand pantry participation. Most pantries that don’t participate have “quite a bit” or “a great deal” of concern with program requirements and associated paperwork, survey responses show.

Most participating pantries reported no issues with requirements and reporting, and multiple pantry directors worry about losing mechanisms to collect information needed to apply for funding. 

The Sharing Center, a rural food pantry in Kenosha County, gets about 90% of its food from donations, with 10% coming from TEFAP, said Sharon Pomaville, the organization’s executive director.

Donors often question whether the pantry is “a free-for-all” that doesn’t scrutinize who receives assistance, Pomaville said.

Pomaville added in an email that she expects her organization to opt out of the federal program “because it’ll gut our pantry, and not allow us to collect data that allows us to secure critical programmatic grants for seniors, children, and veterans.”

State officials say pantries can still collect data, such as the ages of their clients, for food not associated with the federal program. But workers must clarify the questions aren’t required for TEFAP foods — potentially requiring pantries to adopt different procedures for different types of foods.

Some pantry leaders feel out of the loop

Some pantry leaders say they felt excluded from the state’s decision-making process, and they were surprised to find an updated TEFAP client form on the health department website before officials told them about the changes directly. 

The pantry directors currently lack access to an updated procedure manual, which the health department plans to publish in October.

A spokesperson said the health department asked regional TEFAP coordinators in November for feedback on the changes but heard little criticism until the department announced the changes in April.

“If the whole state would have come back to us with challenges, I think we would have had to look at this a lot closer,” the department spokesperson said.

Shane Fitzsimmons contributed reporting. This story comes from a partnership of Wisconsin Watch and WPR. Addie Costello is WPR’s Mike Simonson Memorial Investigative Reporting Fellow embedded in the newsroom of Wisconsin Watch.

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by Addie Costello / Wisconsin Watch and WPR, Wisconsin Watch May 16, 2024

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Addie Costello / Wisconsin Watch and WPR Investigative reporter

Addie Costello is WPR’s 2024-2025 Mike Simonson Memorial Investigative Reporting Fellow embedded in the Wisconsin Watch newsroom. Her reporting has been published by Marketplace, USA TODAY, the Austin American-Statesman, public radio stations across Texas and several publications in her home state of Nebraska. She holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Texas at Austin.