The thread about corporal punishment in schools inspired me to do a Google search and find out what the laws say about physical punishment of children.
What I found was that pretty much all 50 states have laws stating that "reasonable force" is permitted in the disciplining of children, and that only "excessive corporal pinishment" is considered abuse. Of course, the first question that comes to mind is how does one decide what is reasonable or excessive? Very few of the states have laws that get that specific, but the ones that do gave me the chills. In Texas, the law states that it is permissible for a parent or guardian to use "non-deadly force" if the person believes it is necessary.
NON-DEADLY??? That's the only requirement? So unless the parent does something that kills or can kill the kid, this is legal in Texas? So a parent in Texas can legally whip their child with a belt, or burn his arm with a cigarette? Am I reading this right? Some states define excessive and list things such as kicking, burning, cutting (I can't write them all, too long and makes me upset), and also state that anything that causes permanent bodily harm, or long-lasting injury is excessive. But in Texas, "non-deadly" seems to be the only restriction.
What I found was that pretty much all 50 states have laws stating that "reasonable force" is permitted in the disciplining of children, and that only "excessive corporal pinishment" is considered abuse. Of course, the first question that comes to mind is how does one decide what is reasonable or excessive? Very few of the states have laws that get that specific, but the ones that do gave me the chills. In Texas, the law states that it is permissible for a parent or guardian to use "non-deadly force" if the person believes it is necessary.
NON-DEADLY??? That's the only requirement? So unless the parent does something that kills or can kill the kid, this is legal in Texas? So a parent in Texas can legally whip their child with a belt, or burn his arm with a cigarette? Am I reading this right? Some states define excessive and list things such as kicking, burning, cutting (I can't write them all, too long and makes me upset), and also state that anything that causes permanent bodily harm, or long-lasting injury is excessive. But in Texas, "non-deadly" seems to be the only restriction.
