To spank or not to spank? May not have been a great quote from Shakespeare, but it was a quote used around the Forbes family when I was growing up and now the question is being asked again in the Canadian Courts.

This is a tough one with many differing opinions and a lot of heated debate.

A physician has spoken up about this and said it’s a health issue, outdated and ineffective.  Then there are those who say it taught them discipline as a child and see no problems with it, especially when you look at society today.

I myself like to think I am extremely open minded, and yes I received the strap often at home and at school because I was a bit of a scallywag, did it work? You bet.

I often carried on at school and was reprimanded as young as the 4^th grade with the strap, its something I will never forget.  That, along with good old wooden spoon at home turned the tide for me.

I was failed for one year and after some stern discipline I got the message and accelerated the next grade to get caught back up again much to the delight of the principal and my parents.

But now a days is it the best thing we can do? Kids now days seem like they have some sort of entitlement that really tempts you to make a statement with your hand or a strap but can we do better?

I don’t think there are many tougher topics when raising a child and since I don’t have one I honestly don’t know, but when we asked people on my CJAY92 radio show it really struck a chord for and against.

The big challenge is what do we replace spanking with, you lose your iPod for a week or no Facebook? , My Nephews joke that they have the Kids Help Phone memorized and are waiting to make the call, by the way they are very well behaved, that being said.

The criminal code says this in section 43 “A parent is justified in using force by way of the correction, if the force does not exceed what is reasonable under the circumstances.”

The next thing you now there is a police car in your driveway and the neighbors are talking, certainly exacerbating the situation.

I guess the bigger question is do you want your kids to obey you out of fear or the respect you have strived to teach them, this is really a tough one.

The government would like to see spanking gone for good, it will be a good one to watch.

When it comes right down to it, I think with some thought, discussion and a little more study, we will find a better way.

- Ger