A recent news article about a Philadelphia judge that dealt with minors for misconduct was baffling. The article stated that former Luzerne County Judge Mark Ciavarella deliberately assigned juveniles to detention and treatment centers while making financial gains, even if the misdemeanors were trivial in nature such as insulting the assistant school principal, or skating in a prohibited park. Ha.
So much for judicial correction. Not that I don't believe in the state's correctional facilities to bring justice to the average criminal, but it is questionable as to how parents are expected to completely relenquish control over their child to some third party without being able to discipline their child themselves. It is usually unacceptable in the American culture, and now becoming so in Indian culture, to 'discipline' your kids using harsh measures. However, it is a commonly accepted assumption that you spare the rod, and you spoil the child.
In this case, wouldn't it be so much easier if these parents perceived it as okay to use some stricter forms of discipline than just "grounding" at an earlier stage? Perhaps we as a society become more open to stricter parenting.
I do agree that there are parents who will abuse their children if given the leverage and will take undue advantage of this acceptability. However, such individuals tend to abuse the system anyway. Most parents genuinely care for their children and only discipline when necessary. A few punishable consequences to their unacceptable behavior will send a clear message to young children at an earlier stage prohibiting legal misbehavior.
Go on, slap that child, proudly. Okay, I'm kidding. But seriously.
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