25 August 2005

Smacking booklet bad says PHA

PHA Director Gay Keating is horrified that Carey College has sent a 'guide to smacking' home to the parents of its students.

"No matter how you look at it smacking is a deliberate act of violence, and should not be encouraged in any form."

Dr Keating thinks that some people have got the wrong end of the stick in the smacking debate. The debate should focus on giving children protection.

"It's against the law to assault an adult; it's against the law to assault an animal. It should also be against the law to assault a child, even when you are the parent."

Dr Keating believes that the focus should be on eliminating violence against New Zealand children, rather than how much violence is acceptable.

"Should it be okay to hit a child around the head? What if you leave bruising? Should it be okay to use a stick or rod? How big or how heavy? Made of what sort of material? Hitting with your hand - what about a punch with a fist? We shouldn't be arguing about degrees of violence. We should just ban physical punishment of children."

"New Zealanders get confused by this debate. It's not about taking the rights of parents away, it's about creating a safe society for kiwi kids."

ENDS

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