Traditional versus Western models of child discipline:
Although
the use of traditional or corporal punishment to discipline children has been
argued for centuries, a thorough understanding of whether and how corporal
punishment affects children has not been reached. There are many models of
child discipline but lets talk about these three:
Traditional,
Western and Biblical Models.
- Traditional Child Discipline. There
is an old African saying that "It takes a village to raise a child".
If my child breaks the rules, uncles, aunties or the elders of the village are
legally and morally allowed to discipline them. In my experience this has
effectively worked for my generation because there have been limited adverse
issues of crime and immorality compared to my children's generation who are
growing in the western culture. Traditional models bring wholesome fear and
maturity. This is the fear with a positive quality that ultimately enriches and
nourishes our lives, it could be argued. The above video reflects the
controversy between western and traditional ways of child discipline where some
immigrant parents struggle to adapt to the western culture, which in this case
has reflected flaws. The children's services remove the child from parents and
dismally fail the child whose case got worse as she got pregnant and abused
while under social services care. Furthermore, parents ended up carrying the
can to help the depressed teen mother and the social services are no longer to
help the child as intended. Could these be some of the failed policies of the
western child discipline approaches?
2. The western culture believes
that discipline is the process of teaching children the values and
normative behaviours of their society. It is the guidance of children’s
moral, emotional and physical development, enabling them to take
responsibility for themselves when they are older. It helps children
become aware of the boundaries of what is acceptable and unacceptable
behaviour, what is right and wrong, and how to relate to the world around
them. Discipline emphasizes teaching and the consequences of actions.
Positive discipline normally involves helping children to understand why
certain behaviours are unacceptable and other behaviours are acceptable.
In this view parents are authoritative guides and supporters on the path
to maturity, not generals commanding the course of growth by using
corporal punishment. Examples encouraged includes: time out, talking,
removal of regular incentives, cafew, limiting bad associations, "Bad
company corrupts good character" (1 Corinthians 15:33).
3. Biblical Child Discipline: Removing biblical prayer in
schools has increased social problems in our societies.
The
removal of bible prayer in public schools by the supreme court in USA had negative moral impact in today's societies. My argument is that
prayer would not eliminate criminal problems but at least it would reduce them.
For example in June 25, 1962, the United States Supreme Court decided in Engelv. Vitale that a prayer approved by the New York Board of Regents for use in
schools violated the First Amendment because it represented establishment of
religion. In contrast, in 1963, in
Abington School District v. Schempp, the court decided against Bible readings
in public schools along the same lines. So we need to realize that these
actions do have consequences, when we remove that moral fiber - that moral
emphasis – this is what can result.
•
Academic achievement plummetes
•
Increased rate of out-of-wedlock births
•
Increase in illegal drug use
•
Increase in juvenile crime
•
Deterioration of school behavior
