THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, August 16, 1996 TAG: 9608160013
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A18 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: 25 lines
I was surprised and saddened by the many letters in support of a man who paddled his stepdaughter three times in one day with a piece of wood 2 1/2 feet long, 3 inches wide and one-half-inch thick. Those writers may not know that research shows that ``living with one genetic and one stepparent, usually male, is the single-most powerful risk factor for child abuse.''
True, some children need strong discipline; however, a slap is very different from a beating that leaves physical damage.
If my husband beat one of my daughters, their father and grandfather would make sure it didn't happen again.
When Social Services does its job to protect, people aren't supportive. But if a child dies, people blame Social Services for not doing the job.
If the writers of letters defending the paddling are serious about improving child discipline, there are many organizations needing volunteers to help young people. Beating isn't part of the program.
MRS. B. B. ARNEY
Virginia Beach, July 31, 1996 by CNB