As a retired parent educator, I was disheartened by the article “Missouri school district reinstates corporal punishment” (Aug. 26, TribLIVE). With so many alternatives to use, parents and educators can choose nonphysical forms of correcting inappropriate behavior. Studies have consistently shown that spanking as a form of discipline has many negative consequences, even in instances when it appears to correct the behavior.

I encourage both parents and educators to use more nurturing ways to help our children learn. The term “discipline” is derived from the Latin word “discipulus,” which means “to learn.” What are we teaching children when we hit them?

To conclude, I would like to share the following quote from the famous educator and psychologist Haim Ginott: “When a child hits a child, we call it aggression. When a child hits an adult, we call it hostility. When an adult hits an adult, we call it assault. When an adult hits a child, we call it discipline.”

Bob Brinker

Greensburg

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