In a sociology class in college, the subject of spanking was the focus of an entire class session. The only ones in favor of spanking were the more devout Christians. They quoted a particular verse from the Bible:
Those who spare the rod of discipline hate their children.
Those who love their children care enough to discipline them. (Proverbs 13:24, NLT)
What is a rod, anyway? What did it mean for those who lived 3000 years ago, and how does it apply now?
The rod can be understood three ways. First, the rod can be viewed as a piece of wood or iron that could be used to beat a child. This is what most people immediately think of when they hear the verse. Corporal punishment was definitely common in that era, so this definition would easily fit. Second, the rod can be viewed as a measuring stick, rendering an application far removed from a beating. In this instance, to not inform a child regarding the standard to which they should aspire is a hateful, uncaring act. Since this verse is found in wisdom teachings, many of which were written by Solomon, this rendering easily fits, too. Third, the rod could be defined as a shepherds crook, used to guide sheep in the right direction. The shepherd wasn't too interested in beating his sheep - they were his investment, after all - but guiding them carefully, even lovingly makes sense. Since the Israelites were known for their livestock, this imagery certainly makes sense.
So, how do we apply the text? The second two definitions can transcend the years easily - those apply directly to our day and age. Kids need to know what standards of living are, and we need to guide them gently and lovingly in the right direction.
As far as I'm concerned, the beating approach has to go. There is too much evidence that suggests long-term damage of various sorts related to such physical acts. It's not worth it. Does this mean that we nullify scripture when science thinks differently? Sometimes. This may come as a surprise, but within the Bible, as people came into new truths they had not known before, they changed their policies. Women, children, and resident aliens (except from Mars - those creatures cannot ever be trusted...) all enjoyed greater freedoms with time. By the end of the first century CE, Christians viewed women equally, children with respect, and Gentiles of all flavors were considered brothers and sisters!
So, stop going physical on your kids, and choose better approaches. Offer help to those you know who beat their kids - stop the cycle of violence. Below are some statistics that might wake you right up, break your heart, and get you moving...
Child Abuse Statistics: The Magnitude of the Problem
In 1996, child protective service agencies investigated more than 1 million reports alleging child maltreatment of more than 3 million children.1 That means reports were filed on about 1 out of every 15 children in the U.S. [7]
Of the 1 million reports made alleging child abuse, 1 million children were identified as substantiated victims of maltreatment. [1]
The actual incident of child abuse and neglect is estimated to be 3 times greater than the number reported to the authorities. [1]
Every 10 seconds a child is abused. [3]
In 1996, reports of child abuse were received from:
· 51% Professionals/Mandated Reporters
· 18% Family member or the victim
· 9% Friends and/or neighbors
· 10% Other or anonymous [1]
An estimated 1,077 child maltreatment fatalities (or 3 per day) occurred in the United States in 1996. Some experts believe a more realistic estimate is 1,000 - 5,000 children die from child abuse each year. [1]
Types of Child Abuse and Neglect
The percentage of child abuse victims suffered harm in 1996 from:
· 51% Neglect
· 14% Physical Abuse
· 11% Sexual Abuse
· 6% Emotional Abuse
· 3% Medical Neglect [1]
The Victims
More than half of the victims were 7 years old or younger and one-quarter were younger than 4 years of age. [1]
Between 1995 and 1997, 78% of child abuse and neglect fatalities were children under the age of 5, and 38% were under one year of age. [3]
Victims by age:
· 18% Age 0 - 3
· 18% Age 4 - 7
· 11% Age 8 - 11
· 13% Age 11 and over [1]
Victims by gender:
· 51% Female
· 48% Male [1]
Victims by race:
· 56% of all victims were white
· 19% African American
· 11% Hispanic
· 1% American Indian/Alaska Native
· 1% Asian/Pacific Islanders [1]
Children in homes of substance abusing caretakers are almost 3 times likelier to be abused and
more than 4 times likelier to be neglected than children of parents who are not substance abusers. [1]
The Victim's Future
· Maltreatment in childhood increases the likelihood of arrest as a juvenile by 53%, and as an adult by 38% and for females by 77%. [1]
· Being abused or neglect in childhood increases the likelihood of arrest for females by 77%. [1]
· Children who are sexually abused are 18 times more likely to be arrested for prostitution as an adult. [1]
· 85% of convicted felons were abused as children. [9]
The Children Who Are Dying
· Children younger than age 4 accounted for 76% of the fatalities. [1]
· Between 1995 and 1997, 78% of child abuse and neglect fatalities were children under the age of 5, and 38% were under one year of age. [3]
· Fatal abuse usually occurs in one of two ways: repeated abuse and/or neglect over a period of time (battered child syndrome) or in a single, impulsive incident of assault (drowning, suffocating, or shaking the baby for example). [1]
· Child abuse kills more children in America than do accidental falls, drowning, choking on food, fires in the home or suffocation. [4]
· Children under age 3 account for approximately 75% of child deaths from child abuse. [1]
· Head trauma is the leading cause of child abuse deaths among babies. This includes shaken baby syndrome in which 15% of victims die and the majority of the survivors suffer brain damage. [4]
The Perpetrators
Who is abusing the children:
· 77% of the perpetrators were parents
· 11% of the perpetrators were relatives of the victim
· 10% were classified as non-caretakers or unknown
· 1% were in other care taking roles, such as childcare, foster care, etc. [1]
Perpetrators by age:
· 81% Under the age of 40.
· 13% Age 40 - 49
· 6% Age 50 and Older [1]
Perpetrators by gender:
· 60% Female
· 40% Male [1]
Females account for three-quarters of the neglect and medical neglect cases, and three-quarters of the sexual abuse cases were associated with male perpetrators. [1]
An estimated one-half of all homes with adult violence also involve child abuse or neglect. [4]
One-third of all child molesters incarcerated in state prisons nationwide had attacked their own children or stepchildren, the majority of whom were age 11 or younger. [4]
Children from families with annual incomes below $15,000 per year were more than 15 times more likely than children from families with an annual income above $30,000 to be harmed by child abuse or neglect. [1]
50 to 80 percent of all child abuse cases substantiated by CPS involve some degree of substance abuse by the child's parents. [1]
Most of the perpetrators in child fatalities are the child's primary caregivers [1]
Sexual Abuse
More cases of child sexual abuse are never reported than are ever tried in court. [5]
Girls are sexually abused 3 times more often than boys. [6] 1 out of every 4 girls, and 1 out of every 6 boys are sexually abused by the age of 18 years old. [8]
Victims by gender:
· 77% Female
· 13% Male [1]
Women sexually abused before age 18 have lower levels of interpersonal functions and social adjustments as adults and are less likely to form trusting relationships. [1]
More than half of the child victims of rape or sexual assault are age 11 or younger. [4]
For mothers who were age 15 at the time their child was born, 39% of the fathers were age 10 or older. [10]
Some 74% of women who had intercourse before age 14, and 60% of those who had sex before age 15, report having had sex involuntarily. [10]
Physical Neglect, Physical Abuse, and Emotional Maltreatment
It is estimated that 8 out of every 1000 children experience some form of physical neglect. [1]
A greater proportion of the victims of neglect and medical neglect were under 8 years of age. [1]
The percentage of victims of neglect decreases with child age. While over half of the victims of neglect were under the age of 4, only 13% of the neglect victims were age 11 or older. [1]
The percentage of the victims of physical, sexual and emotional maltreatment increases with the child's age. While only 10% of all sexual abuse victims were under 4 years of age, 36% were age 11 or older. [1]
Victims of emotional maltreatment are more likely to be females. Males are slightly more likely to be victims of other types of abuse.
Sources
[1] U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Center on Child Abuse and Neglect. (1998).
[2] Child Maltreatment 1996: Reports from the States to the National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System (Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office).
[3] Prevent Child Abuse America
[4] United States Department of Justice
[5] Andrew Vack, Attorney and Author, Parade Magazine, November 3, 1996.
[6] Cornell University, Ithaca, NY
[7] American Humane Society Children's Division (May, 1997). Child Abuse and Neglect Data Fact Sheet. Englewood, CO.
[8] Prevent Child Abuse California
[9] Crime and Violence Prevention Center: Office of the Attorney General, Sacramento, CA.
[10] Alan Z Institute, Child Trends Inc.
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