Help please with scholarly articles/authoritative statements against smacking?

[robinia]

We saw a counsellor who said "There's nothing wrong with smacking.  Children need to be smacked."    I'm so angry and disgusted.  So, I'm cancelling our future appointments and would like to email her some links with the cancellation.  I'd really appreciate any help with scholarly articles or statements by recognised authorities.  The email may take me a few drafts though!

[Spiralshell]

Wow. Just wow.

I'm hoping others will reply with some links -- I haven't time to go googling for anything now, but there are a lot of people here with good info on gentle discipline WITHOUT SMACKING!

That said, I am sure you are upset, but you really don't need to school this counselor. You have walked away, and so by all means give her some information on the harms of striking and hurting children, but don't feel like you HAVE to do that to leave. 

(For myself, I'd want to barrage her with all kinds of info, I'd be furious! But then I've learned that I really get worked up around stuff like that and it's better sometimes to walk away when you're really very unlikely to convince a person that you're right and she's wrong. YMMV!)

I'm still amazed that she would say such a thing. It just goes to show you that you can be a licensed professional, but still be completely without a clue!

[Petie1104]

Here's one from the American Psychological Association

http://www.apa.org/monitor/sep02/corporal.aspx 

American Academy of Pediatrics

http://aappolicy.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/pediatrics;101/4/723 

The International Child and Youth Care Network

http://www.cyc-net.org/cyc-online/cycol-0101-corporal.html 

I will keep looking but these are a few.  I know that 24 countries (most in Europe) have already banned spanking completely.  But I can't find the source for that one.  I hope these help.  With that said, I don't know if teaching this woman will work.  I have found that people who believe in spanking are very hard to talk to about not spanking.

[robinia]

Thank you Petie for the links.  I decided to use the AAP as I figured it is moderate as well as authoritative.  And thank you both very much, especially Spiralshell, for the reminder that I'm not responsible for her attitude!  It just appalled me to think that someone who may be counselling in all kinds of family situations would volunteer such a statement.

[onlyAngil]

Originally Posted by robinia 

Thank you Petie for the links.  I decided to use the AAP as I figured it is moderate as well as authoritative.  And thank you both very much, especially Spiralshell, for the reminder that I'm not responsible for her attitude!  It just appalled me to think that someone who may be counselling in all kinds of family situations would volunteer such a statement.

The first one talks about Time-outs and because we avoid this method I dislike it, the next is about pedi.s and I see it as over stepping their bounds when "teaching" about how to "discipline" (advice, or a point in the right direction is a little different, iykwim). Personally I would read thought the last one more to see what is says and if I liked it. However, I would always keep looking till I found "just the right one," but this is just me.

[Petie1104]

Originally Posted by onlyAngil 

Originally Posted by robinia 

Thank you Petie for the links.  I decided to use the AAP as I figured it is moderate as well as authoritative.  And thank you both very much, especially Spiralshell, for the reminder that I'm not responsible for her attitude!  It just appalled me to think that someone who may be counselling in all kinds of family situations would volunteer such a statement.

The first one talks about Time-outs and because we avoid this method I dislike it, the next is about pedi.s and I see it as over stepping their bounds when "teaching" about how to "discipline" (advice, or a point in the right direction is a little different, iykwim). Personally I would read thought the last one more to see what is says and if I liked it. However, I would always keep looking till I found "just the right one," but this is just me.

Sorry, these are just the organizations I could think of off the top of my head that I KNEW had statements out about the negative consequences of corporal punishment.

[robinia]

They were ideal for the purpose, though - this was not really an opportunity to promote GD as a whole, and she obviously already thought it was her place to offer advice to parents! - so thanks again Petie.

[onlyAngil]

Originally Posted by Petie1104 

Sorry, these are just the organizations I could think of off the top of my head that I KNEW had statements out about the negative consequences of corporal punishment.

:) There is no need to be sorry, at lest on my account... I am just "picky" and wanted to give my out my $.02, hehe. I am sure they are "good" (as I have yet to read them from end to end) and as Rodinia feels they are good and they did the job for her that is what matters - at lest in this thread.

[ssh]

Your local child services might be interested in knowing about a family counselor that advocates hitting children, if only so they can avoid recommending her to their clients. I know the parenting classes our local CPS sends clients to don't advocate hitting kids.

[Petie1104]

Originally Posted by ssh 

Your local child services might be interested in knowing about a family counselor that advocates hitting children, if only so they can avoid recommending her to their clients. I know the parenting classes our local CPS sends clients to don't advocate hitting kids.

 Good point!! 

[onlyAngil]

Originally Posted by ssh 

Your local child services might be interested in knowing about a family counselor that advocates hitting children, if only so they can avoid recommending her to their clients. I know the parenting classes our local CPS sends clients to don't advocate hitting kids.

What is sad, is i also know some CPS workers (while not the office per say, but the case worker themselves) who would start suggesting a a counselor /more/ on this fact, sigh. Plus, realize one might also have to "prove" that the counselor said such a thing... but I would still try.