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Subscribe to RSSState officials have shut down a family-run day care center in Emporia, Kan., after allegations that the owner used prohibited punishment, which could include spanking or slapping, on the children in her care.
Pamela J. Gile received her license to operate the center on July 20, 2011, according to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment.
Earlier this week, health officials alleged that Gile “used prohibited punishment” on children between Jan. 17 and Feb. 10, which besides spanking, could include verbal abuse, derogatory remarks and threats. The state issued an emergency order of suspension effective Feb. 14.
No other details were released. Efforts by msnbc.com to obtain a phone number for Gile were not successful.
“We can’t discuss any of it because it’s under investigation,” Barbara Hersh, spokeswoman for the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, told msnbc.com.
Gile’s license authorized her to care for up to 10 children ages two weeks to 16 years, depending on their number and ages. Hersh said information about the number of children in Gile’s home at the time her license was suspended will be available when the investigation is complete.
Kansas, like most states, bans corporal punishment in child-care settings. But even in those states where it’s not illegal, authorities say corporal punishment can go too far.
On Wednesday, the owner of a day care center in Seneca, S.C., was arrested on allegations that she beat a 4-year-old boy, according to WYFF4.com. Tracy Dawn Maxie, 42, owner of Maxie Mom’s Daycare, is charged with unlawful conduct toward a child, the NBC affiliate reported.
Seneca Police Chief John Covington told the station's website: “In this case, we strongly feel that the line was crossed between administering discipline and committing a criminal act.”
The child had "severe bruising on the upper back, buttocks, to the upper part of the bottom of the legs,” Covington told WYFF4.com. “Those injuries wouldn't have appeared from a single blow. It was obvious that corporal punishment went way too far.”
Erin Wilkins of the National Resource Center for Health and Safety in Child Care and Early Education, in Colorado, told msnbc.com that corporal punishment should be banned in all child-care settings.
“Research links corporal punishment with negative effects such as later aggression, behavior problems in school, antisocial and criminal behavior, and impairment of learning,” she said.
The National Association for Family Child Care, based in Utah, seeks to improve the quality of home-based child care through an accreditation program that requires providers to comply with 289 standards, including not using corporal punishment or verbal abuse in disciplining children.
Of its 7,000 members, including current and former child care providers, 2,500 are accredited, according to Barbara Sawyer, director of special projects.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends against spanking as a discipline tool under any circumstances. A 2010 study published by the journal Pediatrics found that children who are spanked frequently at age 3 are more likely to be aggressive when they are 5.
“There are ways to discipline children effectively that do not involve hitting them and that can actually lower their risk for being more aggressive,” said Catherine Taylor in a statement at the time. Taylor was one of the co-authors of the study and is an assistant professor at the Tulane University School of Public Health.
“So the good news is, parents don’t have to rely on spanking to get the results that they want,” she said. “If they avoid spanking but instead use effective, non-physical types of discipline, their child has a better chance of being healthier and behaving better later.”
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I am a US Marine and father of 4 you MORONS who think I have no kids. Violence is a daily part of my life in duty - and I have NEVER EVER spanked a single one of my kids.
You pepole still don't get it do you --- it has nothing to do with discipline. It is the ABUSE of a child that cannot defend themselves. Those of you who think you are ok despite your parents spanking you - think back....did your parents ever spank you when they were calm and perfectly in control of their emotions? Ever? Would any normal human being ever resort to hitting another human being - who cannot defend himself/herself when they are completely lucid? Obviously only a person that is sadistic would enjoy it...any other normal human being is simply taking out their inability to control their own temper on a child. Spanking is ABUSE. Period.
Don't believe me? Next time someone pisses you off in a public place - someone not related to you and someone who can hit back - spank them. See what happens to you.
I am totally against abusing any child or human being for that matter, but a crack on the arse does get kids to stop whatever they are doing after attempts at reasoning fail.
As for being in control, the adults in my childhood were in total control, they were pissed off and tired of my behavior and after firm NO's and STOP IT's didn't work a crack on the ass always got my attention. I was NEVER injured, but I learned what not to do.
The kids in school in my day knew that a trip to the principal would usually end with the paddle. Then you got another one when you got home. Now kids run the schools and teachers cower in fear. Time outs, give me a break. "Now little Johnny, you sit there and stare at the wall and think about your bad choice you made, blah, blah, blah..." It accomplishes squat. The kid ends up turning around and making faces at the teacher.
I'm against beating kids for any reason, but a good crack on the arse gets their attention and stops the behavior.
You're none of those things. After a google search, it's not hard to find out who you really are.
Optimal Thinker
I'm an old Marine and father of 3
You're absolutely wrong - You asked " did your parents ever spank you when they were calm and perfectly in control of their emotions?"
The answer is an unequivocal yes; my father and I learned the lesson - NEVER EVER EVER touch your child when your angry. If a spanking is warranted to address a repeated problem or one of appropriate magnitude, the exercise was first to discuss the offense the reason for the discipline choice whether a restriction or on occasions a spanking and if a spanking then send the child to their room to wait.
During that waiting period my father, or I when I had children sat down had a cup a coffee discussed the issue with our wife until such time as we both father and mother were calm and composed. (To be honest, as a kid, the waiting period was worse than the spanking) Both Mom and Dad are to be present one to reinforce our unity, two to ensure emotion remains in check. The number of spankings was stated (99.9% of the time it was 5 - once I got some more because I really screwed up) - the spanking was applied to the buttocks and buttocks only. Once the crying had subsided there was a follow up discussion again about why what one did was wrong and the deserved punishment, this is a life lesson about choices and consequences and thinking before one makes stupid choices which may hurt oneself or others.
I'm very glad my father had the courage and composure to spank me when I needed it.
Now with regard to a day care being able to spank my kid - You better have a damn good reason and already have earned my trust (highly unlikeley unless your direct family) if you touch my kid; otherwise the cops won't have to worry about arresting what's left of you.
YES! Illegal immigrants need to be spanked.
No, they need to be deported!
The scariest thing is to see some people put the words bible and spanking in the same sentence. God help us all.
If you think spanking is bad, wait till you see the fate of the unsaved....Makes spanking look like a walk in the park.....If you are a bible believer..
It sounds like you're o.k. with that - because heaven just won't be heavenly if there's no hell, right? You're hoping for front row seats to watch the un-believers fry.
I do agree marks on the back and such is abuse and clearly not just a spanking..I also do not think we should spank, "whoop" kids under about age 8...after that a good swat on the azz does work I don't care what you new age parents say. I agree with the other poster who said back in our days any adult whooped any kid acting up, related or not, teacher or not. I don't think it makes kids aggressive etc..child abuse may but spankings and azz whoopings as punishment will not. And again, stop asking others to raise your kids if you don't like their methods..stay home with your children(not just mommys but daddy's too) do you need the big house vs the smaller one? Do you need 3 cars? If being home is worth it to you, you will find a way.
Hmm day care workers hitting children is not creepy how again?
First off, any child coming home from day care with extensive bruising was not spanked they were beaten and the responsible party should be dealt with severely.
Secondly, Spanking in and of itself is not evil or criminal. I believe spanking is effective for training but not teaching. There is a difference! Children respond well to training and various methods are effective. I used a combination of several; repetition, bribery, natural consequences, loud noise (hollering) and yes the occasional spanking. Training is used to modify behavior or instill automatic responses such as looking both ways before crossing the street before you are even old enough to understand what a moving car can do to the human body. Frankly I never wanted my small children to understand that, I just wanted them to look before crossing the street and wait if there was a car coming. I didn't care whether they understood it or not. The opportunity for teaching about that lesson would come later. Did I swat a bottom to get their attention? Yes, usually after hollering didn't work. Did I grab them and jerk them back from the curb? Yep, that too. These were not times for bribery and natural consequences was never an option. Should I be in prison, I think not. Where my children scarred by these incidents? I think so, and I'm glad for it, because now even as adults they look both ways and wait for cars before they cross the street.
There is a reason why they call it toilet training and not toilet teaching. Some things must be instilled in children before they are even capable of understanding them. The survival of the human race depends on it.
I'm soon to be 31 and back when I was in elementary school the principal still gave spankings with a paddle and to the best of my knowledge I don't remember much if any trouble going on in that school.
back when my dad was a child in the 50's if you acted up in someone's yard or in public and your parents weren't around you knew someone would administer discipline then tell your parents why they did it and your parents would discipline you too.
The problem with today's kids is the lack of proper discipline. Spanking can and should be done more often and contrary to popular belief it will not have negative effects on your kids provided you do not go so far as it actually being abuse. Spank the kid hard enough so they feel it pretty good, but not to where it leaves bruises.
I was spanked as a kid and I turned out just fine.
jmcinvale
I agree with and I disagree with you.
I went to Catholic school as a kid and my Mother and Father gave the Principal (Sister Mary Theresa) the authority to spank me if she deemed appropriate. My Father even offered to provide the belt if she needed one.
I totally agree that back in the day it was appropriate for the Principal to have the authority to spank a kid. The problem and it's a big one in today's society is you can't trust people, sadly to say even the church members.
There used to be a time if you hurt a child, not talking discipline (discipline should involve a degree of pain (virtual or buttocks related)), you hoped the cops came and got you before family and friends showed up. And people were concerned about being accountable for their actions. Nowadays it's everyone elses (societies) fault and we want government to make others pay for what we want.
Thank you!!! :)
Parent's want some hard working teacher to do what they are to lazy to do, but with no discipline. Morals, Dignity, Respect, and Honor, all starts at home not start at school. Wake up! Some parent's, and I hate to say it probably most parent's have got their head so far up it, that being a parent is like going to the Welfare office, Frustrating!!!!!!
Someone posted, "who tries to reason with a 2 year old?" I have done it almost daily for 12 +years. I have been a childcare provider for 12 years and a mother for 23 years. I have never had to physically punish a child for their behavior. There are so many other better ways to handle situations. The only thing you are teaching a child by hitting (aka spanking) is that if someone doesn't behave the way you want them to then you hit them. Parenting or caring for children is not an easy job and spanking is taking the easy route. It is important for children to learn the right way to behave because it is RIGHT, not because they are afraid.
I was a stubborn head strong kid.
I got my fair share of spankings, my sister rarely (she can only remember once). Now I can't speak for my kids; but I'm pretty damn sure how they think, I spanked them as well and we've talked about it - I've thanked my Father and Mother and my kids have thanked me.
I was NEVER afraid of my Father. I was afraid of screwing up and having to pay the price for my own stupidity; But NEVER was I afraid my Father was going to hurt or injure me. Spankings weren't pleasant, they're not meant to be; but it never taught me that hitting others was a way to resolve disagreements.
Spanking is not the easy way out, especially in today's attitude. If anything, if performed correctly it's the most effective and easiest way for the child since it's done with and over quickly so the building of love, trust and respect which the child violated by their action can be restored; instead of having a long drawn out punishment period.
As I child I'd much rather had a few whacks on my rear which was over in less than five minutes (including the sting) than have to go through hours or days or restriction and reminder of what I did wrong. Do you enjoy making children endure punishment?
When the spanking is done it should be done - Punishment has been meet - Hug and Kiss and let's get on with life.
Only my Father ever spanked me.
The only time my Mother ever hit me was with a 10 inch cast iron skillet. Of course I was 19, home on leave and a 6 foot Marine my Mother is 5'2" (90 pounds soaking wet in a down jacket) and I was teasing her. She lifted the skillet as a joke but couldn't hold it up, dropped it on my head. It did hurt though, caught the edge.
I'll never let her live it down that she beat me with out mercy or justifiable cause.
I DO believe a slap on the BUTT works as a LAST resort! I was spanked (not often) as a kid. I turned out perfectly fine! It's the ones who BEAT or slap the kid in the face, use a blet,etc. There are just some kids who NEED a swat on the butt! IT WORKS! It does not teach them to be violent! Too many people listened to DR.Spock! Why is it now kids have control over parents and authoritive figures rather than the other way around?? Now if spanking/verbal discipline is barred from the daycare facility, then she should have followed the rules. But at the same time, if the parents of these kids let them get away with everything, and they are out of control at home, them what't to stop them from acting that way at a daycare center and what is that person suppost to do?? Some kids are really out of control! Time out's do NOT always work!
Carrie
I totally agree with you the only place to ever apply physical discipline is the buttocks, when as I noted to 'Optimal Thinker' above one has calmed themselves down and if at all possible with both parents present (sadly there are to many single parents now a days- I was one - gladly by that time the kids were beyond spanking years and especially with girls spanking should be an extreme rarity - spanking doesn't work as an effective discipline tool in adolescence).
With regard to verbal discipline, personally the only I find it works is if one doesn't raise their voice. My Mother was Latin and in the habit of raising of her voice when upset (normally went in one ear and out the other) the time it really got my attention which thank God was rare is if she said "Wait till your Father gets home" - My Father on the other hand, when he got angry his voice got very low in volume (that's when one thought to themselves "Oh @!$%#") -his really came home to me in Boot Camp when the Drill Instructor (DI) was screaming down my throat and all I could think was "What are you my Mother" - Never laugh when a DI is chewing you out, for some reason they get more upset and you end up paying for it.
With regard to 'Time Outs' personally I think they rarely if ever work - Kids are not going to cognitively ponder their offense and the reasons they are being required to sit isolated, in my mind just builds frustration (personally I'd rather get 5 whacks and get it over with) - I found a better method was to require them to perform some task (weed picking, sidewalk scrubbing, be creative) - One of the ways I got my kids never to complain about being bored was I had two cans of beans (white and black), if they were bored I just emptied both cans into a pile, mixed them up and them had them separate them. Needless to say my kids were rarely bored they usually found something to occupy themselves. (My Mother taught me this one - Her Mother taught her)
Another one was my son figured out if he complained to his mother that he had an upset stomach, she would let him get out of doing his chores. My remedy: I put a bottle of Castor Oil on top of the fridge, if he couldn't do his chores because he had an upset stomach I had a cure - It worked rather well, only opened the bottle once and it was amazing; thereafter, he rarely had an upset stomach without other real symptoms (flush skin, fever, etc - there are times when kids really are sick) which prevented him from doing his chores. Castor Oil really is a cure for upset stomach, but it tastes like @!$%#.
It's lazy parenting. Most civilized & educated countries have banned corporal punishment totally, making it a crime. Except the U.S. of course, where religion rules over rationality & reason.
Lay a finger on my kid and I will KILL YOU!
If you do not spank your children they will turn gay and move to California.
.
Thats acording to that news show south park.
My parent's rarely spanked us we had too do something really bad or dangerous to get spanked,I've always had better out comes sticking their little butt's in time-out. And there is noway I'd let a stranger spank my child ,you don't fully know that person's mental state,excessively a day-care provider. Caring for one child or three is hard enough imagine 20 of them at the same time,it would also go for a teacher,you just can't trust their judgement or know for sure when they've reached their breaking point... Let the parent decide what type of discipline their child/ren need for their actions.
I had my share of spankings as a child and i'm not an abuser or child beater. In fact i'm a well settled productive citizen. The problem today is there isn't enough a** whooping which causes total lack of respect for themselves and everything around them. Just the thought of getting spanked kept us out of trouble.
What really amuses me here is that the "spanking advocates" are literally braying that spanking is necessary because "children need rules and discipline". Apparently according to them it is either spanking or a total anarchistic household where there are no rules and no discipline! NO MIDDLE GROUND EXISTS! It is hardly surprising that people like that believe such a thing - I have long come to conclusion that only the weak, the ignorant, the lazy and the stupid resort to violence to get their way.
And considering the fact that you refuse to educate yourselves about other ways to control your children other than beating them (hitting a person for any reason=beating, PERIOD.) we can easily conclude you are all four - lazy, weak, stupid and willfully ignorant. Do yourselves a favour: don't breed anymore and fill the Earth with abusive scumbags such as yourself.
There would not have been an arrest had there not been PROOF. Why did DSS allow the Seneca SC daycare to remain open? They simply transferred the license over to the husband who was present during the time it happened. Come on REALLY DSS?????? You are still allowing her to profit off BEATING a child. Yes thats right BEATING not spanking.