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THE INDEPENDENT VOICE OF MID CANTERBURY
Smacking gone underground – local experts BY MYLES HUME
MYLES.H@THEGUARDIAN.CO.NZ
Many Mid Canterbury parents continue to smack their children behind closed doors, local child experts suspect. Despite what the law says, at least one Ashburton mother also told the Guardian yesterday she lightly smacked her children as a last resort. The controversial anti-smacking law is back in the spotlight after figures were released showing a drop in the number of parents being investigated for hitting children. Conservative Party leader Colin Craig has added fuel to the debate, revealing he physically disciplined his 8-year-old child, and would look to repeal the law in negotiations to work with National. The law came into effect in 2007, meaning parents could not use “reasonable force” as a defence when being prosecuted for child assault. But Mid Canterbury principals believe the law has not changed the way some parents bring up their youngsters. “I imagine the odd smack with the hand on the bottom would still be part of some parents’ stable of parenting choices,” Methven Primary principal
Chris Murphy said. Mt Somers-Springburn principal Brent Gray said parents were ultimately responsible for disciplining their children and it was not up to schools to tell them how to. But he said there were better alternatives to smacking. Mr Gray suspected smacking happened, but it was “was not openly discussed at all”. Under the law, Mr Murphy said schools were obliged to report to police and Child Youth and Family if children showed signs of physical discipline, or claim they had been hit. It is something he has had to do in the past. Ashburton parent Emma Prichard did not entirely agree with the anti-smacking law and believed it was not up to others to determine how she brought up her two children. She said she did “give a smack on the bum” as a last resort, but would not in public in fear of being reported. “If you have tried timeout, reasoning, three strikes and taking toys away, it’s your last choice – a smack is not going to hurt, they forget about it in five minutes ... as parents we know how far is too far.”
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