HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3612        FILED ON: 1/16/2015

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 3647

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Elizabeth A. Malia, (BY REQUEST)

_________________

To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying resolution:

Resolutions to encourage parents and caregivers of children to refrain from the use of corporal punishment.

_______________

PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3612        FILED ON: 1/16/2015

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 3647

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_______________

In the One Hundred and Eighty-Ninth General Court
(2015-2016)

_______________

Resolutions to encourage parents and caregivers of children to refrain from the use of corporal punishment.

WHEREAS, THE NATION’S PEDIATRIC PROFESSIONALS AND CHILDREN’S ADVOCATES OPPOSE THE USE OF CORPORAL PUNISHMENT OF CHILDREN, THE RESEARCH SHOWS THAT CORPORAL PUNISHMENT TEACHES CHILDREN THAT HITTING IS AN ACCEPTABLE WAY OF DEALING WITH PROBLEMS AND THAT VIOLENCE WORKS, AND THERE ARE EFFECTIVE ALTERNATIVES TO CORPORAL PUNISHMENT OF CHILDREN; AND

WHEREAS, NATIONAL SURVEYS SHOW THAT CORPORAL PUNISHMENT IS COMMON AND 35% OF INFANTS ARE HIT BEFORE THEY ARE ONE YEAR OLD, AND ADOPTING NATIONAL POLICIES AGAINST CORPORAL PUNISHMENT HAS BEEN AN EFFECTIVE PUBLIC EDUCATION MEASURE IN FORTY-FOUR COUNTRIES; AND

WHEREAS, ACCUMULATED RESEARCH SUPPORTS THE CONCLUSION THAT CORPORAL PUNISHMENT IS AN INEFFECTIVE DISCIPLINE STRATEGY WITH CHILDREN OF ALL AGES AND, FURTHERMORE, THAT IT IS SOMETIMES DANGEROUS, AND STUDIES SHOW THAT CORPORAL PUNISHMENT OFTEN PRODUCES IN ITS VICTIMS ANGER, RESENTMENT, LOW SELF-ESTEEM, ANXIETY, HELPLESSNESS, AND HUMILIATION; AND

WHEREAS, RESEARCH DEMONSTRATES THAT THE MORE CHILDREN ARE HIT, THE GREATER THE LIKELIHOOD THAT THEY WILL ENGAGE IN AGGRESSION AND ANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOR AS CHILDREN IMITATE ADULT’S CONDUCT, AND IN A STUDY OF 8,000 FAMILIES, CHILDREN WHO EXPERIENCE FREQUENT CORPORAL PUNISHMENT ARE MORE LIKELY TO PHYSICALLY ATTACK SIBLINGS, DEVELOP LESS ADEQUATELY-DEVELOPED CONSCIENCES, EXPERIENCE ADULT DEPRESSION, AND PHYSICALLY ATTACK A SPOUSE AS AN ADULT; AND

WHEREAS, ACCORDING TO HUMAN RIGHTS DOCUMENTS, CHILDREN, LIKE ADULTS, HAVE THE RIGHT NOT TO BE PHYSICALLY ASSAULTED, AND THE U.N. COMMITTEE ON THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD HAS CONSISTENTLY STATED THAT PERSISTING LEGAL AND SOCIAL ACCEPTANCE OF CORPORAL PUNISHMENT IS INCOMPATIBLE WITH THE U.N. CONVENTION ON THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD; THEREFORE BE IT

RESOLVED, THAT THE MASSACHUSETTS HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ENCOURAGES PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS OF CHILDREN TO REFRAIN FROM THE USE OF CORPORAL PUNISHMENT AND TO USE ALTERNATIVE NONVIOLENT METHODS OF CHILD DISCIPLINE AND MANAGEMENT WITH AN ULTIMATE GOAL OF MUTUAL RESPECT BETWEEN PARENT AND CHILD; AND BE IT FURTHER

RESOLVED, THAT A COPY OF THIS RESOLUTION BE FORWARDED BY THE CLERK OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TO [LOCAL AND STATE ORGANIZATIONS THAT DEAL WITH CHILDREN’S WELFARE TO ENCOURAGE THEM TO EXPLORE HOW THEY CAN FURTHER RAISE AWARENESS OF THIS ISSUE.]