Jan 22, 2007 12:36 pm US/Eastern
Discipline: To Spank Or Not To Spank?
BY MICHELLE MILLER, CBS NEWS
LOS ANGELES (CBS) ―
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Parental discipline of children is becoming a hot-button political issue from California to New York.
CBS
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Nixzmary Brown was beaten and tortured to death, allegedly at the hands of her mother and stepfather.
AP
A debate is raging for parents: to spank or not to spank your children. Some call it discipline, while others say it's child abuse. But should there be a ban?
CBS News reporter Michelle Miller reports California lawmakers will take up the hot button issue and the controversy could quickly reach across the country to New York, where this issues has come to the forefront following high-profile child abuse cases, such as that of Nixzmary Brown.
Spare the rod! That's the mantra of California State Assemblywoman Sally Lieber (D-Mountain View), who hopes to outlaw the spanking of kids under the age of 4.
"Well these very young children are absolutely sitting ducks for the superior size, speed and force of an adult who's physically punishing them," Lieber said.
The bill would punish parents, possibly landing them in jail for a year, or fining them up to $1,000.
"I think that's harsh," one parent said.
Corporal punishment has been banned from California schools and daycare centers since 1987. Lieber wants the protection extended to the home.
It's an age-old issue re-igniting a debate across the country, and not everyone agrees.
"It's part of discipline," another parent said.
Another said, "It's a huge invasion of privacy."
It remains unclear how the law could be enforced, which is sure to spark debate when the bill hits the floor of the state assembly in March.
(© MMVII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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