Vancouver Sun, August 25, 2016
(http://tinyurl.com/z5d2ool)
Dear editor:
Re: Douglas Todd: B.C.’s domestic-violence programs based on ‘false’ theory
While resources for any person who is a victim of violence is a concern, the real issue is why are we seeing domestic violence at all? Where do Canadian adults learn that hitting another person is a way to handle frustration and anger?
At Corinne’s Quest: End Physical Punishment of Children we know from years of research that children who are hit by parents, learn early that violence toward those you love is acceptable and reasonable. As long as we permit parents to hit children they will grow up learning to hit others in their own families.
The answer is to join the 49 countries in the world who have prohibited the hitting of children. In Canada that would involve the Repeal of Section 43 of the criminal code which permits the legal assault of our most vulnerable citizens.
The government has said it will recognize the Calls to Action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Number 6 calls for the repeal of s.43, Corinne’s Quest calls for the repeal of 43 and the research is clear that hitting children in not effective and carries clear risk factors.
One of these factors is that children learn at their parents’ knees (or over them) that hitting is an appropriate response to conflict.
Let’s tackle the problem by teaching our children that there are many more effective ways of handling stress, frustration and anger than violence. We need to Repeal s.43 and use the many effective, positive forms of child discipline.
Kathy Lynn
Chair, Corinne’s Quest: End Physical Punishment of Children