Mass. court offers guidelines on spanking
By: Rebecca Turco
Email: rturco@abc6.com
FALL RIVER – Parents in Massachusetts are now officially allowed to spank their kids, with exceptions.
The framework comes straight from the state’s highest court, while reversing the assault and battery conviction Thursday of a Brockton man who spanked his nearly 3 year-old daughter in public.
The ruling comes with guidelines: “reasonable” force has to be used and the child can’t be harmed.
This has the Children’s Advocacy Center of Bristol County up in arms. “Research tells us that adverse childhood experiences, which includes physical abuse, can have a lifelong impact on children,” explained Executive Director Michelle Loranger. “It’s not acceptable [for adults] in society. I don’t know why it would be for children.”
ABC6 News caught up with local parents, many of whom feel the court shouldn’t be telling them how to raise their kids.
Kelly Victoria of West Bridgewater feels the legal language could create a grey area. “Everyone’s definition for reasonable force is different,” she said.
One thing everyone can agree on – this ruling is continuing the conversation on a long-debated topic. “My hope is that it gives us an opportunity to teach alternatives to the use of spanking,” Loranger explained.
© WLNE-TV 2015
