Reply #4: The paddle was a threat not punishment. If the kids did as they were told, they'd

[napi21]

never be touched. i think, at least is the younger grades, it's a good way to encourage behavior. I'm obviously much older than you are because my children are 45 & 42, but I can tell you it all depends on the child and their personality. i had two boys. one was never touched; he always listened to what he was told and just a stern side glance convinced him what he was doing was wrong. The other was the exact opposite; daring and always looking for a way to get hurt or into something he whouldn't. YeS I did swat him on the diaper and even a few times on his butt when he was 5 or 6. I also kept a BIG wodden spoon hanging on the kitchen wall....mostly for decoration, but when the two boys would gt together and dream up something they knew was wrong I would take the spoon down and threaten. I never hit them with it, but the threat and size of the spoon always worked and believe it or not, they're both very successfull men now with their own families.

Can't yu just explain to your children that as long as they obey the teacher they have nothing to fear? Please remember when you son gets older, it won't be the teachers yu have to worry about with violence, it will be the other bos at school. He needs to learn how to avoid it and not be labeled a baby.