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August 12, 2006
Mandated Reporter...
So I decided to raise my hand and ask a loaded question; "What is considered child abuse?" The Child Protective Service instructor replied; "Any physical contact to child that involves blunt objects, harsh contact to the face or head, and is done so in a malicious manor".
Huh... I know when I was a child, I fell victim to "the belt", "chancla" (flip flop) and whatever disciplinary object that was within reach of my folks. I never knew it was considered child abuse. The CPS worker than went on to say, that corporal punishment is not against the law, but there are certain guidelines that must be meet. And they are, simply put; "Open hand contact to the bottom of a child's backside, with clothes on"... Can I just say that is that was my punishment, a smack on the ass, I'd continue to test the boundaries.
Not that I'm saying that I condone anything more than a smack on the ass, but come on. I see what today's youth do. Some of them are disrespectful, violent, have a blatant disregard for the law and almost always continue to slide down hill. My mom came from the school of hard knocks, and she would NEVER put up with me acting like a hoodlum in training. Truth be told, I always asked myself, "Would mom beat the hell out of me if I skipped school today?". The answers where always "Oh hell yea", but it helped keep me in line.
Then CPS worker changed my view on this issue/subject...
I know that kids, MUCH YOUNGER kids should never be introduced to the belt, because they're babies. The CPS worker showed some pictures of babies that where killed because of malicious abuse. I cried. And right then and there, I decided I wanted to have a little baby. Who would hurt a baby so young and precious? Most of the children who died at the hand of the parent, where victims of domestic violence themselves. It's no excuse, but the CPS worker said it's very common. The mother takes the frustration out on the baby, and later cries that she didn't mean too.
This is gonna be a really hard job.
Posted by Roque at August 12, 2006 03:52 PM