I really don't think it was spanking that was the difference in the youth. It was that parents took an interest in their children, they expected good behavior and respect. Parents were accountable for their childrens behavior socially. Spanking just happened to be the most common form of discipline. Children NEED discipline and guidance just as much as they need love.

Several years ago my daughter had six girls spend the weekend for her birthday. They went to a church sponsored teen center in afternoon planning on staying until it closed at 10. She called to have me pick them up early. There was a boy in there harrassing them, the people running the center decided to solve the situtation by kicking all the kids out and locking the doors. It was winter and bitter cold. When I arrived this boy and his friends were still getting physical with the girls and the adults were behind the locked door watching the whole thing. My arrival didn't scare him in the least, although his three friends blended into the background, he attempted to shove me. I told the girls to get in the van and the boy decided to expose himself to us.

Once we got home the girls were fretting about what would happen on Monday, this boy had a history of grabbing them on the breast and butt. And what was really astounding is that teachers were aware of the problem and did nothing. Our state takes these things quite seriously (debate for another day). I decided to call the boy's father. Innitially the father was just as much of an *** as the "boy". I finally became mega***** put it in black and white, either he did something and assured me that the boy would keep his hands off these girls or my next call would be to the police and I would make sure that he was charged for the sexual assualt and indecent exposure I witnessed. I would personnally harrass the school staff until they too reported his behavior.

My husband was very unhappy, the boy was 18 and in his opinion fair game. He did not take kindly to the boy assaulting me or the girls (who were 15). We heard through the grapevine that the father beat the hell out of the boy (which I do not advocate). He never touched my daughter or her friends again. He did decide to take his frustration out on my oldest son who has the reputation for being a gentle giant. My son surprised me by meeting force with force. He had witnessed the girls upset and my irrate phone call, all without a word. I worry about that boy to this day, I do not blame him. Once I spoke to his father it became clear that the boy had never been taught what was appropriate behavior.

When my parents went to school spanking was allowed. The paddle still hung in the superintendents office when I went to school. My mother used to say that she'd much rather get spanked in school than have the school call home.

Even in my day no matter what was going on between students in school or even in public, when a teacher or adult appeared you behaved. Today parents use a variety of excuses to excuse bad behavior, ADHD being the most common. My eldest son has a very severe case of ADHD, this is NOT an excuse for bad behavior. He had impulse control, but he was/is respectful. He had difficulty staying on task but he was not disruptive.

During hunting season (which was all of the fall and most of the winter) boys walked around with knives in their belts, every truck had at least one gun in it in the parking lot. No one would have dreamed of bringing them in school to use them for violence.