Consultation on the Children (Abolition of Defence of Reasonable Punishment) (Wales) Bill

Tystiolaeth i’r Pwyllgor Plant, Pobl Ifanc ac Addysg ar gyfer craffu Cyfnod 1 Bil Plant (Diddymu Amddiffyniad Cosb Resymol) (Cymru)

Evidence submitted to the Children, Young People and Education Committee for Stage 1 scrutiny of the Children (Abolition of Defence of Reasonable Punishment) (Wales) Bill

CADRP-162

CADRP-162

 

About you

Name: Nicola Lund

Role: Teacher

1      The Bill’s general principles

1.1     Do you support the principles of the Children (Abolition of Defence of Reasonable Punishment) (Wales) Bill?

— No

1.2     Please outline your reasons for your answer to question 1.1

(we would be grateful if you could keep your answer to around 1000 words)

This has originated from the UNCRC and is a sledgehammer to crack a nut. My belief is that people need to be educated at secondary school level about general principles of good parenting whether they become parents or not, since they will inevitably come into contact with younger family members throughout their lives. As an adult who was emotionally and verbally abused as a child, more permanent lasting damage was done to me (still with me almost fifty years later) than the odd smack which I received. This sort of damage however, goes unseen rather like sexual abuse. Criminalising parents is NOT the answer. We are living in what is becoming more and more like a police state every day.

As a teacher, I have seen standards of behaviour and respect for teachers and school staff degenerate alarmingly during the last twenty five years. Some children and young adults act in a semi feral way NOW, so by removing any sort of boundaries for children's behaviour as they grow up, generations to come will pay the price.

1.3     Do you think there is a need for legislation to deliver what this Bill is trying to achieve?

(we would be grateful if you could keep your answer to around 1000 words)

Absolutely NOT. This is very ill thought out and as I stated above, you have not even considered the sort of abuse which has implications for a child's future mental health.

2      The Bill’s implementation

2.1     Do you have any comments about any potential barriers to  implementing the Bill? If no, go to question 3.1

(we would be grateful if you could keep your answer to around 1000 words)

-

2.2     Do you think the Bill takes account of these potential barriers?

(we would be grateful if you could keep your answer to around 1000 words)

-

3      Unintended consequences

3.1     Do you think there are there any unintended consequences arising from the Bill? If no, go to question 4.1

(we would be grateful if you could keep your answer to around 1000 words)

I would like to know what the implications are for teaching staff like myself as I have been told that even picking a child up in the act of chastising them will be criminal also.

4      Financial implications

4.1     Do you have any comments on the financial implications of the Bill (as set out in Part 2 of the Explanatory Memorandum)? If no, go to question 5.1

(we would be grateful if you could keep your answer to around 1000 words)

5      Other considerations

5.1     Do you have any other points you wish to raise about this Bill?

(we would be grateful if you could keep your answer to around 1000 words)

I believe it is a complete waste of money and it has come about very surreptitiously.