82.6%	Yes
17.39%	No

Comment: I think it is okay to spank your child with your hand but not with other objects like a belt. by Brittani

Comment: There's a big difference in spanking your child and abusing your child. I will absolutely spank my child as a form of discipline as my parents did with me. I knew what I was getting spanked for and I will make sure I don't start spanking my child until I know they know what they're getting spanked for as well. from Pensacola, FL by Rebecca

Comment: all kids need a good spanking every now and then. It was that way when i was growing up. If the kids went to act up the should get a spanking. Time out does not work. from crestview by dan

Comment: i dont believe these studies, the parents of our generation spanked us, and we turned out to be well behaved, hard working and very good citizens. this generation dosnt believe in spanking and we are raising unruly, smart mouthed, lazy and unproductive young people. from pensacola,fl by odis

Comment: Parents from one or two century's ago wound say yes but as a teenager i disagree with spanking a child because that causes the child to become angry and whatever happened to grounding the child or taking something away? from pensacola florida by ashley

Comment: Why not kick a few puppies too. from Ft Walton Bch,Fl by Jim

Comment: There may be many ways to deter a child from doing the wrong thing and reinforce good behavior. We should however be wary of a no spanking rule. There are and will probably always be children who will push the envelope and test the water. from Milton Fl by William

Comment: I believe spanking is a last punishment for a young child. I do not believe in spanking toddlers. from Pace, FL by Chris

Comment: Absolutely yes, done lovingly and for the right reasons--rebellion and disobedience. Children will understand why they're being spanked, they know when they're throwing a fit that it's because they're not getting their way. Children who aren't taught to behave are not pleasant to be around. Some children don't need spankings--the eager-to-please child. I had one of those and I don't believe I ever spanked her. But the other 2 got their share, because they were strong willed. They are happy, well-adjusted, successful people. The Lord wouldn't have told us to do it, in the book of Proverbs, if it was harmful. from Pensacola by Freda

Comment: Spare the Rod and Spoil the Child, Have you heard that before? If not you have quite possibly pulled your time in Prison. I got my share of trips behind the barn for an attitude adjustment. These adjustments were crucial in keeping me on that line of doing RIGHT. Get into trouble at school, get your rear busted TWICE. Once at school and once when I got home. That rhetoric that was put out on TV earlier, was out there solely to keep the shrinks in business. Give them justified spankings, they will know why, and you will not have to do it but once if you do it right! from Navarre by Lawrence

Comment: Once they start to school their chops need to be busted regularly. from Pensacola, Florida by Paul

Comment: It's not that I think it's wrong, There are just plenty of other effective ways to handle discipline. We need to remind ourselves that young children are on the process of learning right from wrong. It's our job to remind them of the rules in a calm, patient, and loving manner. Just as we teach them not to hit others, we shouldn't hit them. from Fl by Jennie

Comment: Sure,It's ok to spank DCF also.I got them as a child,and I knew not to be doing things to get it again.There is another jail being built here in Milton,just for young people,who may not have gotten a spanking. from Milton,Fl. by Deacon,Raymond

Comment: It's okey to spank children to discipline them they'll remember that everytime they misbehave they'll be spanked so they will not do it again from Pensacola by Carmen

Comment: Spanking is okay as long as you have love. You can not have discipline without love. I have two very bright, loving, and social children. Enough said! from Cantonment by Janice

Comment: Children are raising themselves, they don't have discipline in their lives.Parents let them do anything they wont. That is why children don't respect them. The bible says"Spare the rod spoil the child" if you allow a child to do any and everything they choose they well become unmanagable. Until parents take back their rightful position as parents and us the authority that God gave them, our children well continue to be disobedient. from Pensacola, Florida by Magdaline

Comment: I think that it all depends on the child. I have seen it both ways, a child not spanked as a child grew up just fine, but another child not spanked as a child went down the path of destruction. I was spanked as a child and I am a productive American citizen. from Ft. Walton Beach, Fl by Karrie

Comment: "The Center for Child and Family Policy at Duke University studied 25-hundred toddlers from low income families .... and found the effects of a smack on the bottom can be long-lasting." Keep in mind this was done by college stundents looking for a grade that have no children of their own. Ask these same college kids in fifteen to twenty years after raising at least two of their own what the real long term weffects are. Also ask of those not spanked how many have done jail time by their late teens. from Pensacola / Florida by Roger

Comment: No, when you say spank certain people take the definition to the limits of what they define spanking is. A slight pop on the but and a round house muliple slap or fist is not a spank. Thats a beating. from Pensacola,Florida by Flower

Comment: I spanked both my children when nothing else worked. They both have high IQ's. I do not advocate beating a chile, but being consistent with a child is to their advantage. Praise a child for all they do that is good, but do not accept bad behavior. from Cantonment, Fl. by Sandra

Comment: It's completely up to the parents and NOT any government entity. If government sticks it's nose into parenting, the government needs to be beaten like an attacking dog. from Cantonment, Fl. by Jeff

Comment: A lack of discipline is why crime is so rampant in America. They are never too young to understand cause and effect of our actions. from Milton/ FL by Mike

Comment: you should want to spank your child at a early age if u want them to behave you if not they would run all over as they get older cause thats what they would be used to .its just a certain way you should spank them let them know right from wrong parents please dont abuse them to where you have to go to jail but to let them know you is serious about what you tell them and still them show much love but right is right and wrong is wrong from pensacola fla by angie

Comment: Spanking teaches kids that there are consequences to disobeying. Put a kid in time-out or send him to his room he sits there for a while then comes out thinking ok I got away with it now i can do it again. you spank a child and he will remember If i do that it hurts. I have raised to kids and they knew growing up that a spanking was not an attack on them but a punishment for something they did wrong. As a parent you have to explain why they are being punished not just wack away and hope they learn. from milton by Kenneth

Comment: I believe the "effects of a smack on the bottom" being long-lasting is a GOOD thing! Why spank your child if you don't mean it? We're not talking about beating a child. We're talking about discipline, which parents today don't seem to do. I say definitely spank them if they need to be spanked. Otherwise, you will have a child growing up with no boundaries. from Pensacola, FL by Mary Ann

Comment: Yes, of course. That does not mean there are no limits. However, a child should not be injured in any way by a parent - or anyone else. Learning respect for authority, rules, etc. are important for any child to learn. Discipline is often required - and one tool is a spanking, subject to the above limits. from Pensacola / FL by Rick

Comment: yes at home not in public,thats the problem with america we cant spant our kids then the law wants to know why you cant control our kidsa hello we got spankings why not them.department of children and families threaten to take your kids if you spank them..they need spankings from milton fla by shane

Comment: Both my husband and I grew up being spanked when we were in trouble. We are raising our children the same way. We also use time out and taking things away, but sometimes a spanking is needed. from Al by Condy

Comment: You can spank a child. There is a differance from spanking a child and beating a child. The Bible says spare the rod spoil the child. from jay/florida by chester

Comment: "He who spares his rod hates his son, but he who loves him disciplines him promptly." (Proverbs 13:24) "Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child; the rod of correction will drive it far from him." (Proverbs 22:15) "Do not withhold correction from a child, for if you beat him with a rod, he will not die. You shall beat him with a rod, and deliver his soul from hell." (Proverbs 23:13-14) I hope this helps, but let me also comment on these verses. I believe God is teaching about how to correct children in love. Yes, they do need discipline, but some Christians believe this can only be done by spanking. I do not believe this is what God is teaching with these verses, and if it is we are in trouble in Washington State because we can only spank children with our hands on the bottom, and this cannot leave marks that last, I believe more than 24 hours. In other words you cannot use a belt, branch, or other objects. The child cannot be hit anywhere except on the bottom. I personally believe this is a reasonable law and we as parents, and grandparents need to follow the law of the land on this subject. Yes, we need to discipline them, but do it when we are not angry, and use wisdom and love. Putting a child in time out would fulfill the spirit of the law here. The point is to show direction, and show where the boundaries are so the children will show respect and follow our good examples of behavior. We need to treat the children as God treats us, with love at all times, even when they disobey. As a father of three, two boys and a girl, and eight grandchildren, I would rather error on the side of love than on the side of discipline. There is, however, a healthy balance between correction and love, God alone can give us the wisdom we need for our own children! "Parents must avoid falling into a pattern of physical threats, spanking, or isolation to control unwanted behavior. There is a difference between punishment and discipline. Punishment inflicts retribution and causes hurt, but discipline provides safety and control. Its purpose is to retrain. The key to discipline is consistency and reason. It is very important that the child develop the inner emotional security that consistent limits and reasonable discipline provide. As parents, God has appointed you the primary source of protection and spiritual authority over your home and family…Begin by examining your own personal relationship with Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord. Clean up the sin in your life. Read the Word of God and act on it…Pray for the power of the Holy Spirit to fill you and flow through you to your child. (Dr. Ken Olson) "Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. ‘Honor your father and mother, which is the first commandment with promise: that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth.’ And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord." (Ephesians 6:1-4) from milton by m

Comment: I spanked my children because they did wrong. I did not spank them just because I wasn't feeling good or in a bad mood. Spanking is good if done for the right reason. from Pensacola, FL by Andrew

Comment: Each situation warrants personal judgment on whether physical discipline is needed to correct a behavior problem. Used in the proper way, physical "Spanking" on the behind can be a quick and useful way to defuse an imitate behavior issue. The problem with spanking arises when emotions such as anger on the part of the parent comes into play. This often leads to a much forceful "spank" and crosses the line into child abuse. Parents who are engaged in proper parenting techniques will rarely spank their children due to the effectiveness of alternative methods. from Pensacola, Florida by Bradford

Comment: Spanking - combined with RESPECT for the spanking parent - never hurt anyone! from Camden, AL by Jane

Comment: I think that it is perfectly okay to spank a child in a responsible manner that is appropriate. Some discipline must be promoted in order to deal with misbehavior. It provides morals, as simple as, when doing something wrong, there is consiquences. Spanking and not beating is what is appropriate. As a child I was spanked, and I didn't get very many due to the fact of learning those positive morals. And, I am so greatful that my parent's did that for I have gained respect and value's because of it. from Milton, FL by "C"

Comment: Many times teaching needs to be enforced and spankings(not beating)do leave a more lasting reminder. Too many children today are not taught safety, respect for others or manners and a firm hand in childhood will do wonders. I always explained to mine why they were getting a spanking. They have come back to thank me for training them to be responsible for their behavior. from milton, fl by sharon

Comment: Spanking is a way to teach a child that there are consequences for actions. There is a way to go about it though, and it's never with anger. We explain and talk to the kids before any spankings. They understand the difference in right/wrong. They know it's a punishment. Time outs work for little tiny kids, when they get older and know how to reason then the punishment should be upped. Even Escambia county has said spankings are fully allowed by law. from Pensacola FL by C

Comment: I think its fine for a parent to spank there child as long as they spank them on the butt and dont take it to far and dont spank them to hard, Kids these days need to learn wrong from right and know how to respect and obey there parents because in these days kids seem to have no respect for there elders or themselves. When I was growin up I was spanked and im fine smart and up to speed. sometimes people look into these studies just alittle to much. from Pensacola Fl by Emma

Comment: I was spanked myself as a child and feel that I turned out JUST FINE!!!! I do think there is a difference of spanking and beating your child and should NEVER spank your child in anger. from Shalimar Fl by Jennifer

Comment: Spare the rod, Spoil the child. As long as spanking doesn't get out of control - then it isn't abuse. from Cantonment, FL by Laila

Comment: Yes, to a degree. As a toddler, with a short attention spane it should be "OK" to disipline your child if the word "NO" and time-out does not correct the child's behavior. As a child gets older they should be disiplined by removing items they cherish i.e. game systems, phone, tv, etc. from Niceville, FL by Jennifer

Comment: If a child is doing something that warrants a spanking then so be it. The problem with our society is that people believe spanking is bad. I was spanked as a child and I turned out fine! I didn't get in lots of trouble as a teen because I learned actions have consequences because my parents spanked me. Children need discipline and stucture. If they don't get that you end up with the adults that do drugs and murder people. Our society needs to open its eyes and see that lack of discipline for our children is what's causing the problems with our teens. from navarre fl by desiree

Comment: yes, it is ok to spank ur children, and it shouldn't even be up for debate. No one should be getting in my business of spanking or not spanking!! from Milton, FL by Teresa

Comment: Some times when a child acts out and cannot be appropriately controled, it is necessary to spank them, not out of frustration but to teach them that they ARE ACCOUNTABLE for their actions. TOO OFTEN children are not appropriately disciplined. from Pensacola fl by Jeff.

Comment: Get disceplane at an early age and it comes in real handy as you grow up. from pensacola florida by james

Comment: You see the result of not spanking a child anytime you walk into a store to see them pulling a tantrum in an aisle as their parent or parents are talking as hard as they can at them. I mean really, parents have been effectively castrated by fear of being arrested for spanking their kid. from Pensacola, FL by Scott

Comment: I think the key is knowing the difference between a beating and a spanking. Children need limits and a smack on their rear end lets them know quickly that they've passed the limit. I feel that a major problem with rise in crime among our youth today goes back to a generation that stopped placing a smack on the bottom of their children. from Cantonment, Florida by Brigett

Comment: No child should ever be spanked. Spanking is a learned behavior passed from generation to generation. It's the frustration of an adult that harms the child, physically & mentally. Children need loving, kind adults in their lives. Spanking begets control issues & power struggles that are not condusive to a happy childhood. The research at Duke Univ should be enough evidence! Unfortunately, those who grew up being spanked may not change. Spanking is intimidating, abusive behavior that doesn't promote unconditional love to a child. from Gulf Breeze, FL by Martha

Comment: Absolutely, that's the main thing wrong with today's kids. Grounding/time outs bunch of balonely, don't work from Beulah, FL by TJ

Comment: I think spanking is needed in some cases.But as other methods even it sometimes does not work with some children! I think its ok as long as you are careful not to go to far!!But some parents definately should never spank because they dont know where to stop!!!! from crestview by cherry

Comment: Studies have shown that young children do not comprehend "why" you are spanking them therefore it serve no purpose other then a adult on a power kick. There is a difference between one quick, not hard, swat on a bottom to get ones attention, example running into the road, then spanking. from Navarre, FL by Laurie

Comment: I believe in spanking as it was used on me and I probably could have used more. Society tries to change to many things and get involved in to many aspect of ones life. If a parent chooses not to spank thats their decision. But they should not try to force their beliefs in dicipline on everyone. from Pensacola by Tom

Comment: There is a difference between spanking and beating. We have generations of children who were disciplined this way without harm. Get real. from pensacola, fl by d

Comment: A good pop on the butt never hurt me and never hurt my children. There is a difference between a spanking and a beating. I would count to three (out loud), that gave me and my children time to redirect and if by three there was no change then one pop on the butt is what they got.My kids didn't grow up to be aggressive! from Pensacola/Fl by Ann

Comment: No I don't think so as a child i just got used to them after a while i tuned them out and just ignored it all together from Pensacola by Dylan

Comment: I wonder if these "experts" checked the behavior of teens who shoot other teens and display no respect for others on how they were raised. How many were not given discipline and now are too self centered to care about others. We're talking about discipline not beatings. from Gulf Breeze, FL by Don