Letters to the Editor: What have anti-smacking laws achieved?

Sparing the rod has spoiled the children, says one reader. Photo / Getty Images

In 1990, New Zealand legislated the outlawing of corporal punishment in schools.

Then in 2007, we saw the ushering in of the controversial anti-smacking laws, which even today, some 14 years later, provoke vigorous discussion.

We were assured both times that these measures would reduce violence in society as we were tackling these issues at the very grassroots, protecting children from both the physical and mental trauma supposedly associated with smacking as a disciplinary measure.

So, how do we measure the success of these laws so many years down the track?

A generation of no corporal punishment has seen many valuable educationalists leave the profession because of the violence in schools, and all those children born since 2007 who haven't had the benefit of warmed backsides are absolute paragons of virtue - not.

I suggest it's time to admit we got it wrong and go back to using the rod and not spoiling the child.

When I grew up it worked pretty good - and history proves it.

John Williams
Ngongotahā

Psychiatric hospitals relieved families

Further to Jim Adams' letter of May 13, regarding the need for young carers.

In New Zealand, we used to have psychiatric hospitals. There were wards full of people who needed full-time care. They were well looked after, and their families could visit any time.

And families could get on with their own lives as well.

Our closest one was Tokanui Hospital. It closed in 1998.

Catherine Gray
Rotorua

Step up the fight against drugs

Tuesday's front page about child drug use (News, May 11) made grim reading.

Nationwide figures showed how desperate the problem is.

We can't blame the government, police or social services. No, the parents of the younger offenders need to step up and take responsibility for instilling moral standards on their children.

They need boundaries from birth. Even former drug kingpin Billy Macfarlane stated that cannabis use by children is a big problem.

Obviously, the numbers in the article are only the ones who have been caught, the real figures are probably double.

We clearly need to step up the fight against drug dealers/manufacturers. Much more than half of crime such as murder, violence, theft has to do with drugs.

Where will it end?

Politicians must stop trying to legalise marijuana for any reason other than medicine. Increase jail terms and dispense with parole.

We could easily reserve our jails for violent crimes, murder and drug crimes. All the rest could be dealt with by enforced home detention and purpose-built low-security jails using electronic devices to keep the criminals in place.

Dan Russell
Tauranga

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