Sparing the rod

There was a bit of a stir in the childcare world this month when Scotland proposed to ban the smacking of children. A law drafted by the Scottish Executive would ban all physical punishment of children aged under three, and shaking, blows to the head and the use of 'implements' such as slippers on all children. It would also extend the law against physical punishment in childcare centres to childminders' homes, regardless of parents' permission. But, apart from the other conditions, parents would still be allowed to set the rules for discipline in their own homes - which includes that...