THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, July 28, 1996 TAG: 9607260007
SECTION: COMMENTARY PAGE: J4 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: 21 lines
Regarding ``Discipline or Abuse? Paddling 13-year-old lands man in court'' (MetroNews, July 19): This is an instance of a father trying to discipline a child to keep her on the straight and narrow path out of trouble. If her stepfather has to go to jail, who will support her, her mother and her 10 brothers and sisters?
Regarding child abuse: I'm beginning to believe the young people of today who are giving their parents such trouble should be prosecuted for parent abuse.
I got plenty of whippings as a child, and privileges taken away if I disobeyed. I was taught to respect other people and their property. Also, I was taught good manners and to say ``Yes, Ma'am'' and ``Yes, Sir.''
REGIS BYRD
Norfolk, July 20, 1996 by CNB