Kansas intends to make corporal punishment for children legal

According to a parenting article published on SheKnows, a Kansas lawmaker is seeking to make punishment for children legal, even if the abuse would leave marks or bruises. Pointing a report by local news station KCTV5, the state of Kansas is looking to introduce a bill that would give parents and anyone who has been given permission by them to spank their children without garnering legal consequences. The law had driven a wedge among parents in the state as a provision of the proposed bill outlined the fact that physical punishment was still illegal to do so.

Kansas is one of the few states left in the US who has yet to remove a legislation that allows corporal punishment in public schools. Kansas House member Gail Finney, D-Wichita has proposed that the state goes even a step further allowing parents or people who had been given parental consent to punish children legally as long as marks or bruises are still in the shades of red. Finney also proposed to ban hitting of a child using one's fists or hitting a minor in the head or body. However, Finney's proposed bill also banned the use of a belt of switch to punish children.

Those who were in favor of the proposed bill said that the passing of such legislation will help increase parental authority. One Facebook user said on KCTV5's page, "Most of the people saying no to spanking their children are going to wind up with bratty, no manner having, disrespectful kids who will become part of the ongoing problem of our youth today. Don't abuse them, but a good whack will sure straighten your mouth and attitude up real quick."

Others were aghast about the new bill. A mom of one, Jenn believed that there are other ways to discipline a child without resorting to physical abuse. Others question the need to expand a bill that already allows spanking. "I do not agree that allowing parents to spank harder is going to teach children respect for authority. There are many ways to teach a child respect, and making children fear their parents or trusted caregivers is not the way to do it. If you can't beat an adult to the point of bruising, then you shouldn't be able to do the same to a child."

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Kansas House member Gail Finney, D-Wichita, KCTV5, corporal punishment in public schools

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