To Spank or Not To Spank - Corporal punishment and Child Abuse

Should parents or schools be able to discipline kids in any way they choose, within reason? Do you think spanking is abuse? Do you think corporal punishment is abuse? What is the best way to instill discipline in children? ... Meanwhile, The debate over corporal punishment in public schools has made it's way to the Capitol of Louisiana. Get this, Tuesday Representative Barbara Norton, D-Shreveport, took her bill to ban corporal punishment before the House Education Committee. The legislator said, "There are 11,000 children being paddled in school each year," said Norton. "If these children are being whipped in their houses and whipped in the schools, I say to you today, what is it we can do to give that child some stability, to understand somebody cares." The issue caught the attention of lawmakers on the committee, including Representative John Edwards, D-Amite, who allows corporal punishment for his son in school. "On occasion he needs corporal punishment, but everyday he needs to know that it is something that the school can administer, and I believe that," said Edwards. Also watching closely, supporters of Norton's cause, who think corporal punishment is disproportionately used on boys, african americans, poor and disabled students are members of various watchdog groups. So... Should we not allow parents to spank their kids, while allowing corpal punishment? Join the conversation tonight on the the Political Slugfest. "If you can handle the truth."