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Mum accused of assault with wooden spoon

Yahoo!7 October 15, 2009, 12:45 pm

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A mother in Victoria has been accused of assault after using a wooden spoon to discipline her nine year old daughter.

Police warned Claire Davidson she could be charged with assault with a weapon.

Do you think parents should be allowed to hit their children? Leave your comments below.

The incident came to light during an anti-bullying discussion at Yea Primary School, north of Melbourne.

Her daughter told year three students her mum smacked her.

A support worker reported the conversation, and police took action by speaking to the family.

Ms Davidson said, "When we went there they took Anna aside, and they had a word to her. They were satisfied no major abuse occurred."

"However it is an offence to smack with a wooden spoon. I was told it was acceptable to use an open hand on the backside, however nothing else."

She told the Herald Sun, "We only use [it] when she is being naughty and we give her fair chance to rectify the situation."

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Stephanie 01:15pm Tuesday 20th October 2009 EST Report Abuse
My god seriously! " Smacking" is not abuse although hitting and whacking is. You can see the difference when you go out and about and see parents who really whack their child and not just on the backside but over the head and anywhere else. Thtas called abuse but the whole smacking ...
Jenna 06:26pm Sunday 18th October 2009 EST Report Abuse
The article I posted a link to in my earlier comment addresses this question and suggests some solutions. Sadly not everyone on this site seems to like reading.
Marcus 08:22am Sunday 18th October 2009 EST Report Abuse
At the end of the day theres not a camera in every home so how can we point the finger and say change your ways when children are hitting children geration after generation within homes,schools and public.If they see anger they develop anger, if they see discipline " verbal or not " ...
Jenna 03:04pm Saturday 17th October 2009 EST Report Abuse
Strauss & Paschall,1998 have reported overall harmful effect for parental corporal punishment, including: four-fold increase in assaults on siblings by children under 10; double the rate of physical aggression in school playgrounds among six-year-olds; increased substance abuse and criminal ...
m 09:30am Saturday 17th October 2009 EST Report Abuse
I wouldn't choose to use anything but my hand and to date have sworn I would not smack unless it's regarding safety and I have kept to that. If he throws something at someone, he loses it. If he hits me, I walk out of the room. Different parent, different kid.
m 09:17am Saturday 17th October 2009 EST Report Abuse
There's no easy answer otherwise keep it simple and as a last resort. As a rule I don't choose to smack my son, but when he started running onto the road I gave him a smack on the bottom. He hasn't run onto the road since. I don't like it but there's times whe ...
MissB 08:24pm Friday 16th October 2009 EST Report Abuse
You cannot answer just yes or no to smacking a child. We know a lot of people go overboard and don't just stop at one smack. We know children can be terribly trying and smacking a child when you are over the top angry is definate child abuse.
ask 08:23pm Friday 16th October 2009 EST Report Abuse
It seems that most people don't have a problem with child abuse judging by these comments. shame that the odd parent takes it too far and kills the child. there are other ways to get through to a child. you don't have to raise your hand to them like a coward or bully
Alan A 07:38pm Friday 16th October 2009 EST Report Abuse
I'm 39, and I have no children, but I am a firm believer in the judicious use of corporal punishment on children. I was disciplined by my parents when I was a kid (my father used the flat of his hand on my backside, my mother used a doubled-over extension cord) and I can tell you, I never ...
Laurna 06:36pm Friday 16th October 2009 EST Report Abuse
I am curious to know how many of you actually have children? Each circumstance is different, as is every child. What is appropriate for one child is not suitable for another. Parenting doesn't come with a rule book, sometime a smack is necessary to the situation.