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-240

CADRP-240

 

About you

Individual

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)

Do not agree to take away a parents ' right' ( as this is what the name ' parent means') to discipline their children with a ' smack' if needed is part of being a parent.

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)

NO! not at all . No-one outside of the parents should interfere ' by any form ' be it a ' Bill' or other means to achieve any change as it's not their ' right' or business . Outside of a real life threatening or abusive act from a parent or parents ( which would be termed as ' criminal') How dare anyone or law interfere with the parents who are doing what is normal?

Can we ' draw up a bill for a company that ' knows what their company is about and how to run it ? just because we think it should be different? I don't think so.

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)

It would certainly be bad to restrict parents to how they discipline their ( naughty child) . Children are not born ' ready made ' good kids'.They have to be taught how to behave and grow up with a sense of respect for others and elders. This doesn't happen automatically but by parents who have a natural ' built in ' if you like ' code of correct conduct. If your child is about to put it's hand on a hot stove ' you may just have to ' smack it off. This ' bill' would confuse any well meaning parent.

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)

How can the law be the same for children as for adults? Their not the same . Children BECOME adults. Without ADULTS discipline' children will become ' adult ' brats, disrespectful and even criminals ' you name it. Have you ever known a parent to grow up as a ' child'? being disciplined by one ( thats crazy). Parents help their children with growing skills that they wouldn't do for already grown up people. A smack to a child is NOT child abuse. I along with my siblings were brought up on the ' smack' and not one of us have disgraced society in any way. We are glad our parents brought us up to know ' right from wrong'. Which unfortunately ' is to be looked up in a dictionary ' for some '

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)

While I agree with giving children a good sense of ' self worth' and are to be treated in a just and respectful manner. It's wrong to place adults in a place of ' humiliation' where a ' childs demands' aren't checked or be seen as bad manners or uncontrolled anger. Teenagers would go through all kinds of hormonal changes and while we would have sympathy for them , we have to still use adult discipline and correction. I think the media has been too easy to encourage young ones to ' think and act in ways they wouldn't normally be. I never came across anyone who being smacked as a child, thought their parents ' abused them' In fact quite the opposite' they'd say ' they deserved it and are grateful to these parents who gave them a smack.