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Every Bone a Prayer


The the story of one tough-as-nails girl whose choices are few but whose fight ...
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Do you think that corporal punishment is ever justified for children? Besides the physical pain, what does Misty notice and remember about being whipped with the switch?

Created: 07/21/20

Replies: 16

Posted Jul. 21, 2020 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
davinamw

Join Date: 10/15/10

Posts: 3442

Do you think that corporal punishment is ever justified for children? Besides the physical pain, what does Misty notice and remember about being whipped with the switch?

Do you think that corporal punishment is ever justified for children? Besides the physical pain, what does Misty notice and remember about being whipped with the switch?


Posted Aug. 04, 2020 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
Marcia S

Join Date: 02/08/16

Posts: 505

RE: Do you think that corporal punishment is ever justified for children? Besides the physical pain, what does Misty notice and remember about being whipped with the switch?

There is a huge difference between a swat on a hand when a child is reaching for something hot, and an actual beating. The whipping the girls got in the book was terrible. There certainly could have been a less violent consequence for their perceived misbehavior. I'm in my 70's and had occasional "spankings" as a child. I certainly learned what was acceptable and what was not! Thus, I'm not opposed to a child receiving an occasional swat— but never a beating!
In regard to what Misty remembered, I know she remembered the pain when she felt the welts and scars.


Posted Aug. 04, 2020 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
kimk

Join Date: 10/16/10

Posts: 889

RE: Do you think that corporal punishment is ever justified for children? Besides the physical pain, what does Misty notice and remember about being whipped with the switch?

I think what bothered me most about the passage was that Misty's mother punished them out of anger and fear. I agree with Marcia S in that I, too, had the occasional spanking or swat that corrected my behavior, and I don't necessarily think that's out of line. The more impactful spankings came from my dad, who talked to me about what I'd done wrong and why I was being punished; to this day I still remember those, and what I did to earn them. My mom, on the other hand, was more of a grab-and-swat parent; not only do I not remember any specific instance or reason, but it always felt arbitrary and unpredictable. The end result is that I grew up to be a relatively good person, but also ended up fearing my mother.

It's a tough balancing act for any parent, though.


Posted Aug. 04, 2020 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
gerryp

Join Date: 08/04/20

Posts: 32

RE: Do you think that corporal punishment is ever justified for children? Besides the physical pain, what does Misty notice and remember about being whipped with the switch?

Absolutely not, it just added to the abuse she suffered.


Posted Aug. 04, 2020 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
Maggie

Join Date: 01/01/16

Posts: 434

RE: Do you think that corporal punishment is ever justified for children? Besides the physical pain, what does Misty notice and remember about being whipped with the switch?

Never justified. My parents were not abusive nor was I with my two children. I have a friend who now as an adult is in therapy. Her father abused all three girls, never sexually but dragging them down the hall by their hair is just one of the things she has shared.


Posted Aug. 05, 2020 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
ColoradoGirl

Join Date: 05/16/16

Posts: 149

RE: Do you think that corporal punishment is ever justified for children? Besides the physical pain, what does Misty notice and remember about being whipped with the switch?

No I don't think it is every justified. I believe that you do have to discipline children, but not physically harming them like with a switch. That was so hard to read about. I get frustrated by parents that tell their kids it's not OK to hit other kids, but then physically beat them. Talk about a mixed message.


Posted Aug. 05, 2020 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
Kathleen V

Join Date: 06/02/20

Posts: 14

RE: Do you think that corporal punishment is ever justified for children? Besides the physical pain, what does Misty notice and remember about being whipped with the switch?

It's never justified. Absolutely not acceptable under any circumstances. I was deeply uncomfortable reading that scene.


Posted Aug. 06, 2020 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
mmr

Join Date: 08/06/20

Posts: 10

RE: Do you think that corporal punishment is ever justified for children? Besides the physical pain, what does Misty notice and remember about being whipped with the switch?

I believe any form of violence results in more and later violence. Corporal punishment teaches fear and creates a cycle of mistrust. I choose the Atticus Finch school of parenting.


Posted Aug. 08, 2020 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
Jessica F

Join Date: 05/23/20

Posts: 165

RE: Do you think that corporal punishment is ever justified for children? Besides the physical pain, what does Misty notice and remember about being whipped with the switch?

Those girls did not deserve the switch! They were physically abused because of their mother's fear and embarrassment. That is just plain awful. The family had no communication skills. The key to discipline is understanding, empathy, and discussion (from both sides). When those three things are in place, the wrong-doings will likely not happen again.


Posted Aug. 08, 2020 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
windellh

Join Date: 11/05/17

Posts: 72

RE: Do you think that corporal punishment is ever justified for children? Besides the physical pain, what does Misty notice and remember about being whipped with the switch?

I feel corporal is totally unnecessary. It creates fear and confusion in a child instead of respect.This to me is just another form of physical and emotional abuse. Love and understanding are far more effective.


Posted Aug. 08, 2020 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
LindaB.

Join Date: 06/11/14

Posts: 80

RE: Do you think that corporal punishment is ever justified for children? Besides the physical pain, what does Misty notice and remember about being whipped with the switch?

No, it is never justified! I had switchings as a child and was always hurt more mentally than physically, even though it was nothing like was described in this book.


Posted Aug. 08, 2020 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
Harley's Mom

Join Date: 02/21/19

Posts: 44

RE: Do you think that corporal punishment is ever justified for children? Besides the physical pain, what does Misty notice and remember about being whipped with the switch?

I don't think it's justified. In the case with Misty and Penny, I think the mother was taking out her anger and frustration with the problems in her life on her daughters. Nothing positive could come out of the kind of beating described in that scene.


Posted Aug. 13, 2020 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
PiperUp

Join Date: 10/27/15

Posts: 146

RE: Do you think that corporal punishment is ever justified for children? Besides the physical pain, what does Misty notice and remember about being whipped with the switch?

No, it's not justified. Teaching children that they deserve to be physically abused for not doing what someone wants them to do or for doing something that someone doesn't want them to do causes serious damage. Especially to females & if the person is claiming to do it out of love. It leads to some of them thinking that it's ok for their partners to abuse them because their parents abused them. It reinforces the belief that they deserve to be hurt if they step out of line.


Posted Aug. 16, 2020 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
annl

Join Date: 04/03/17

Posts: 40

RE: Do you think that corporal punishment is ever justified for children? Besides the physical pain, what does Misty notice and remember about being whipped with the switch?

I think it is very dificult to judge from the outside a blanket policy of child rearing. That said, you dont get the impression that it is effective on these two young ladies. You feel like it comes more from ignorance and a pattern of frustration of the life of mom. One thing i did like about this book is the lack o discontent of their lot in life of the adult characters. And the landlord of the trailers for being an entrepreneur.


Posted Aug. 19, 2020 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
julies

Join Date: 08/19/20

Posts: 2

RE: Do you think that corporal punishment is ever justified for children? Besides the physical pain, what does Misty notice and remember about being whipped with the switch?

I do not think corporal punishment is ever justified for children! There is a big difference between discipline and corporal punishment. Proper discipline is to teach the child a lesson in a healthy way. Corporal punishment is basically torture and is nothing but damaging to a child. Misty has marks left from being beaten with the switch, which are a constant reminder of the hurt - both physical and mental.


Posted Aug. 19, 2020 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
windellh

Join Date: 11/05/17

Posts: 72

RE: Do you think that corporal punishment is ever justified for children? Besides the physical pain, what does Misty notice and remember about being whipped with the switch?

I agree with julies post. Corporal punishment does not equal discipline.


Posted Aug. 22, 2020 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
joang

Join Date: 05/17/12

Posts: 94

RE: Do you think that corporal punishment is ever justified for children? Besides the physical pain, what does Misty notice and remember about being whipped with the switch?

Corporeal punishment is never justified. Those who are physically abused abuse their own children. It is referenced in the discussion that Jem and Dolly have when the marks are noted on Misty. Culturally accepted still by some.
The other thing that bothered me about that scene was the restraint. Her mother held her wrist while she used the switch. William restrained her as well while he abused her. I think the use of the "switch" reinforced her feelings of "it's my fault". I am "bad", look at what my mother did or William did. Emotional pain does go along with the physical pain.
Discipline does need to occur. Removing children from the situation, time alone, discussion, and
consequences are important. Regardless of verbal ability children will understand your behavior especially displeasure. Changing your expression and voice will have impact. Disciplining is difficult but needs to occur and be consistent.


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