THE EDITOR, Sir:PLEASE ALLOW me to respond to Hartley Neita's article which appeared in the Saturday Gleaner on April 1, entitled 'Sparing
the rod'.
I am an ardent reader of Mr. Neita's articles and always look forward to his nostalgic stories of his childhood days in Four Paths, Clarendon, and his This Day in our Past information. Based on his reminiscence of the past, it is obvious that he was well brought up with good values and attitudes by loving parents.
However, I am writing to express my disapproval of beating children. Some children really do not have loving parents, and with belts and canes and other weapons in some people's hands, many children suffer terribly. Imagine a teacher inflicting pain on a child who is being abused in various ways at home. Surely that child will not learn anything but anger.
Some are not just scarred physically, but also psychologically, sometimes for their entire life. Why should children be flogged like we would criminals? They should not be put in the same category.
We must refrain from this type of punishment and find other ways. For example, deprive them of some of the things that they like to do, etc.
Mr. Neita is still my favourite contributor to The Gleaner, and I hope that he and others who believe in physical punishment for children will spare the rod without spoiling the child.
I am, etc.,
THELMA SMITH
Rio Nuevo Heights
St. Mary
