Duke University’s ‘Anti-Spanking Study’ Riddled With Errors

A recent study by Lisa J. Berlin of the Center for Child and Family Policy at Duke University concluded that children who are spanked are more likely to grow up aggressive than those who aren’t. The study looked at 2500 low income families and came to the conclusion that those who were spanked showed more aggressive behavior one year later, than those who were not. In their opinion the case was closed as they pompously declared that spanking is bad.

Why on earth we even do “studies” like this is beyond me. By now, hasn’t everyone figured out that you can manipulate the social factors into giving you whatever results you want? For example….why did they only choose “low income” families to do the study? Their claim was that it is more likely for “low income families” (white, black, and Mexican) to dole out corporal punishment. If you need the snotty, Duke University, liberals translated for you….what they’re saying is that only dumb, poor rednecks, blacks, and Mexicans still spank children, because rich, uppity, well-educated elites are too brilliant and kind to resort to such discipline. So how do the rich people deal with behavior problems? They drug their kids with Ritalin….problem solved. The basic premise of this study is: spank=bad, drugs=good.

Don’t misunderstand what I’m saying. I know that in some cases, there is a chemical reason for a kid’s bad behavior. But in ALL cases there is also a spiritual reason for their bad behavior. According to the Bible, parents are to raise their children by “teaching them in the way that they should go” (Proverbs 22:6) …..and by using “the rod” as a means of discipline to reinforce the lessons learned. Make no mistake about it…. “the rod” can be used in an inappropriate fashion. For example, when it’s not used in accordance with “teaching” (I.e., communication) you’re unlikely to have a positive result. And therein lies another flaw with the Duke study.

Did they take into account parents who used spanking as one aspect of their disciplinary measures in a broad system of child-raising? No. They seem to have done everything in their power to find parents (low income) who simply scream and spank, with no training aspect involved. Let’s be honest….how many good, godly parents….who spank their children….are going to allow the high-brow liberals from Duke to “study” them? Not very many. Duke rounded up the group of people who would give them the results they wanted.

Another flaw with this study seems so obvious that one wonders if the Duke Professors honestly thought no one would notice it. The kids spanked at age one were more aggressive at age two. Perhaps they’re getting the cart before the horse. Maybe the REASON they were spanked more is because they’re more aggressive TO BEGIN WITH. In other words….maybe the spanks didn’t cause the aggression…..maybe the aggression was what caused the spanks.

I hope everyone can see this study for what it is…..yet another attempt for academic, intellectual, “experts” (many of whom don’t have children of their own) to tell parents that they know better than them how to raise their children. To liberal scientists, children are nothing more than lab rats which they “study” to make a profit. And often times it’s the “profit” that they have in mind when they cook up garbage such as this. The study was endorsed by the American Association of Pediatricians who have “other discipline techniques” they would like to share. Furthermore, the study’s findings were published in Child Development magazine. Do any of these organizations have anything to gain by parents lovingly disciplining their children? No. Do they anything to gain by having parents put their children on Ritalin? Absolutely. As the pharmaceutical sales increase….so do the goodies that the pharmaceutical companies provide to pediatricians. Not to mention the advertisements they’ll purchase in magazines like Child Development.  This study was driven by two things:  money and a false understanding of man’s sinful nature.  People (kids included) are no inherently good….they’re inherently evil, and must be made good. (Romans 3:10; 23)  The left-leaning academic and scientific community believe the opposite…and consequently their findings on human behavior will always be faulty as a result.

I know that the Bible is the last thing the Duke “experts” want to talk about….but let’s pretend for a moment that God may know more than they do about raising kids. After all, God did “invent” people, so maybe he knows something about it. The Bible teaches “He who withholds his rod hates his son, but he who loves him disciplines him diligently.” (Proverbs 13:24 NASB) and “Do not hold back discipline from the child, although you strike him with the rod, he will not die. You shall strike him with the rod and rescue his soul from Sheol.” (Proverbs 23:13-14 NASB) God’s Word couldn’t be more clear…or blunt. You can talk all day about how much you “love” your kids….but if you don’t use spanking as apart of their discipline….You aren’t SHOWING THEM LOVE. “Love” doesn’t let a child get away with unruly behavior. “Love” disciplines them. And Godly “love” disciplines them God’s way….with a spank and a word of loving correction.

The second verse is even more sobering. They say the road to Hell is paved with good intentions. While a parent may withhold spanking out of “love” they may be ushering their child down the road to eternal damnation. If a child isn’t taught early on that there is right and wrong. And rewards and punishment. Then the gospel isn’t going to make much sense to them. You may consider yourself “too nice” to punish them, but God doesn’t. Teach them now. Teach them well. Discipline them God’s way. Ignore the “experts” way. And see how God may bless it.

In conclusion, this study is the biggest joke I’ve seen in some time on the detrimental effects of spanking. When done the right way, spanking is very effective. Yes, there comes a time when kids are too old to spank…but when they’re young, they need “the rod” to reinforce the teaching from mom and dad. Self-proclaimed child genius, Elizabeth Gershoff of the University of Texas states that spanking, “creates a model for using aggression, because spanking is just hitting." Gershoff doesn’t have the foggiest idea what she’s talking about. There’s a big difference between walking up to someone and hitting them…..and sitting a child down, explaining that their defiant behavior is unacceptable, giving them a swat on the rear-end as a reminder, then explaining that you love them too much to let them act like devils. And devils they are, unless taught otherwise. And if they’re not taught otherwise, then they’ll GROW UP to be devils as well. Maybe even “blue devils” from Duke, who waste their life, their time, and your money coming up with hare-brained schemes for raising children….that only lead to their ruin.

This entry was posted on September 15, 2009 at 4:47 pm and is filed under Parenting, Education. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response or trackback from your own site.

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