Spanked in public?

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If I misbehaved in church, which included falling asleep or not paying attention, I was marched out for a spanking in the “cry rooms,” which were little soundproofed rooms where the sermon was piped in so mothers of fussy babies could sit and listen. Many parents also used them for spanking. They were private, but everyone knew what happened when a parent escorted an older child there, then returned with that child puffy eyed. It felt very public and humiliating.

@SWGenX

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The church in which I was raised had two "mothers' rooms" for mothers to use for... 1> caring for babies (breast feeding, diaper changing, etc), and 2> fussy young toddlers who were not yet old enough to have their fussiness corrected/disciplined.

Older children were expected to either attend Sunday School class or attend the worship service with their parents. Misbehaving in Sunday School or the worship service was not tolerated. Discipline for misbehavior was administered in the "Spanking Room" (there was actually a sign/placard on the door that read, "Spanking Room").

The Sunday School teachers and parents would escort naughty children to the hallway or the back of the sanctuary, where a church elder would take custody of them. These church elders would take the naughty children to the sspanking room and punish them. The advantages of this process were that the Sunday School teachers and the parents could stay focused on teaching Sunday School or worshipping in the sanctuary.

Inside the spanking room, there were 3 paddles (small, medium, & large) and 3 leather straps (short, medium, & long) hanging on the wall. There were also 3 different lengths (short, medium, & long) of the dreaded freshly cut/peeled "river willow" switches in 3 umbrella stands. The classrooms used for Sunday School were also used for the K-12 Christian Schools operated by the church, so this spanking room was also used for disciplining primary students (grades K-3) and elementary students (grades 3-6) during the week. The junior high school (grades 7-8 ) and high school (grades 9-12) were in a different building, where corporal punishmens were administered inside the boys' and girls' PE locker rooms.

Sometimes, when parents felt that they needed pastoral guidance regarding disciplining their children, they would schedule an appointment with a pastor or an elder. The parents and the naughty child(ren) would attend a counseling appointment together and, when it was determined that discipline was required, a trip to the spanking room was often determined necessary to "correct" the naughty child(ren).

Also, this was a very patriarchal congregation, and it was commonplace for fathers or church pastors/elders to use the spanking room for the purpose of punishing single adult women, or for Husbands to use the spanking room for punishing rebellious wives. And actually, although quite rare, it was not unheard of for the Board of Elders to sentence an adult male member of the congregation to receive a flogging, which was administered with a modified leather razor strop (similar to Canadian, Louisiana, and Texas prison straps).

I was spanked a few times in public places by my step mother. I don't recall age at the times but I know the first time was because I was hiding from her and my step sister in a clothes rack and she kept calling out my name and I thought it was funny but she did not. She found a chair or bench and pulled down my pants and let me have it right there in the store. People were looking on but did not say anything and it happened a couple other times as well.

I really wasn’t routinely spanked as a kid but if I was every extra bad I would get a few smacks to my ass. The only time it ever happened in public was at the baseball fields while my brother was at practice. I really didn’t want to be there and was acting up most of the afternoon. At some point I started yelling things at the boys on the field and cursing. My parents tried to get me to stop by telling me I was going to be in big trouble when I got home but I didn’t seem to care. Eventually my dad had enough and spanked me a few times over his knee on one of the bleachers. I started calling him names and crying. He told me I better stop but of course I didn’t. He stood me up and dragged me to the bathroom/locker room with him. There were a few dads and kids in there at the time. Hard to say how many since I was already overwhelmed and crying, begging to let me go and apologizing now. But I had already made my bed. He pulled my pants down to my knees and laid me over his lap again. He spanked me probably 10 times on my bare bottom. Needless to say - I behaved much better from then on every time we went to the baseball fields.

Spanking a child in public is generally not considered appropriate or advisable. Public spanking can be humiliating and embarrassing for the child, potentially causing long-term emotional harm. It's important to remember that discipline should be done with respect and in a way that maintains the child's dignity. Instead of public punishment, it's better to address the issue privately, where the child can feel safe and understood. Open communication and positive reinforcement are often more effective ways to teach and guide children. Parents and caregivers should focus on creating a supportive and nurturing environment where children can learn appropriate behavior without feeling shamed or embarrassed.

The idea of spanking a child in public is a deeply sensitive and controversial topic. It's important to recognize that public spanking can have significant negative impacts on a child's emotional well-being. Children thrive in environments where they feel safe, respected, and understood. Publicly spanking a child can lead to feelings of humiliation, embarrassment, and a sense of being unfairly judged by others. This can damage their self-esteem and trust in their caregivers.Instead of public punishment, it's far more constructive to address behavioral issues in a private setting. This allows for a more thoughtful and calm discussion about what went wrong and how to make better choices in the future. It also provides an opportunity for the child to express their feelings without the added pressure of an audience.Effective discipline is about teaching, not shaming. It's about guiding children to understand right from wrong and helping them develop self-control and empathy. Parents and caregivers should focus on creating a supportive and nurturing environment where children feel heard and valued. Techniques such as positive reinforcement, clear communication.

The concept of spanking in public is highly controversial and widely discouraged by child development experts.Public spanking can be deeply humiliating for a child,as it exposes them to judgment and potential ridicule from others.This can lead to feelings of shame and a sense of vulnerability,which are not conducive to healthy emotional development.

Moreover,public spanking can undermine the trust between a child and their caregiver.Children need to feel that their caregivers are their safe haven,a place where they can turn to without fear of public embarrassment.When spanking occurs in public,it can send a message that the child's feelings and dignity are not being prioritized.

Instead of resorting to public spanking,it is far more beneficial to address behavioral issues through private,respectful,and constructive conversations.This approach allows for a more thoughtful discussion about the behavior in question and provides an opportunity for the child to express their perspective.It also helps to preserve the child's self-esteem and fosters a stronger,more trusting relationship between the child and the caregiver.

Ultimately,the goal of discipline should be to teach and guide,not to shame or embarrass.By focusing on positive reinforcement,clear boundaries,and open communication,caregivers can help children develop a strong sense of self and the ability to make good choices,all while maintaining their dignity and self-respect.

When it comes to disciplining a child, respect should always be a fundamental principle. Public spanking, however, often undermines this principle. It can make a child feel humiliated and disrespected, which is counterproductive to the goal of teaching and guiding them. Instead of learning appropriate behavior, a child who is spanked in public may internalize feelings of shame and inadequacy, which can hinder their emotional development.Effective discipline is about setting clear expectations and boundaries while maintaining a child's dignity. It involves teaching children to understand the consequences of their actions and to develop self-control and empathy. Public spanking, on the other hand, can create an environment of fear and intimidation, which is not conducive to learning or emotional growth.A more constructive approach is to address behavioral issues in a private setting. This allows for a calm and respectful discussion, where the child can express their feelings and understand the reasons behind the rules. Parents and caregivers should focus on building a strong, trusting relationship with their children, based on mutual respect and understanding. By using positive reinforcement and consistent consequences, they can help children develop the skills they need to make good choices and behave appropriately.