Jim Mason on Sunday

Am watching this and dont know what i think really.

not sure if he did really punch the kid, if he did then sure he should be punished. He did say he pulled the hair of one kid and "flicked" one in the ear... and his description of his robust "pedal and stop" lesson certainly doesnt sound warranted after the kid had practically knocked himself out... and some would argue that the language he used was abusive too...   

I think it was probably a case of people not seeing the whole situation and drawing conclusions from the little they did see. The way he spoke of the day and his way of discipline is not disimilar to the way my father would have spoken to us and yes we were smacked and sworn at, but most definetly not what I would deem as abuse. (Some may beg to differ, but I don't see it as abuse).

I am completely against the Anti-smacking law. For the most part because it came as a response to the appalling child abuse statistics we have in this country, many cases in which children have been killed. I know first hand that people who abuse their children to the point of serious injury and/or death occuring, do not recognise the law in general, so why the hell would they take notice of this law?? IMO there are far better and more productive ways of addressing the problem of child abuse in our country.. Anyway that is another completely different thread. Sorry to thread jack there Bizzy

Sorry didnt see the program but just wanted to add as adults we teach our children not to hit other children and not to hurt people in other ways by biting etc. Then we turn around and dicipline our children by hitting them a bit of a mixed message IMO. I personally like the Anti-Smacking law no it wont stop the abusers as no they dont abide by the law, but it does give a voice to children that smacking is not ok and what gives us the right just because we are adults to hit a little person. As an adult we are twice the size of children imagine being hit by us!!

I have to say that yes I completely understand and have to correct myself and say I agree with that aspect of the repeal. No abuser should be given a way out so to speak, for harming a child.

I suppose what makes me angry is that for years we have heard of so many children that have been severely beaten/killed and nothing pro-active seems to be happening within the community to address this. I realise there is no easy and simple solution but I feel like nothing is really being done. Having just given birth to my own child, I have been thinking more and more about this issue. I come from an area where so many children I went to school with were abused and sadly now, many of them have gone on to abuse their own children. I am only 24 and to see this cycle continue saddens me. There isn't enough support in communities such as mine showing families that abuse is not a normal part of life. (I would like to point out that I myself was not abused and I was lucky to have had a brilliant childhood). I guess I'm angry that after years of such high profile child abuse cases, I still return to the community I grew up in and hear of children and their mothers being abused - with no initiative from the government to have people working in these communities with families that need help the most. Instead the abuse carries on and sadly we turn on the television to hear of another case of child abuse.

I will correct myself Bizzy.. I suppose in a round about way I am seeing the repeal in a different light.   I am just so angry about this issue (like most people), and even more so about the lack of support where it is truely needed. Sorry that was way too long!

Edited - to clarify myself properly - baby brain!

Edited by anna_bana

I thought the guy was a jerk. He seemed to think that swearing like a trooper at his kids in the street is a perfectly acceptable form of parenting.