Editor: This afternoon, I read a 91原创 resident鈥檚 letter (the Times, April 28) who was fearful of the dis-empowerment of her abilities as a parent, should Section 43 be removed from the Canadian Criminal Code.

As a fellow parent of young children, I have to insist that the removal of 鈥淭he Spanking Law鈥� (as it is often called) would not inhibit a parent鈥檚 ability to parent his or her child, and instead would promote a safer, more responsible form of discipline.

The wording of Section 43 is not, as the author stated, 鈥渢o use limited, minor force鈥� when parenting a child.

The wording is: Every schoolteacher, parent or person standing in the place of a parent is justified in using force by way of correction toward a pupil or child, as the case may be, who is under his care, if the force does not exceed what is reasonable under the circumstances.

I ask, who is to determine what 鈥渞easonable鈥� force is?

Aside from times where common sense has to come into play 鈥� which would be to pull a child away from an oncoming vehicle, or away from a hot stove 鈥� there is no reason for a caregiver to be correcting a child using physical harm.

Despite the adage 鈥淪pare the rod, spoil the child鈥�, it has been proven in various studies (including those from the American Psychological Association) that corporal punishment does not curb negative behaviours.

In fact, it has been shown that instead, corporal punishment oftentimes harms the relationship between child and caregiver.

A 鈥渢ime-out鈥� is not corporal punishment, and it is an overreaction to believe that one would be punished by law for grabbing her child鈥檚 arm in a parking lot in order to prevent her from being hit by a car.

It is irresponsible to continue to support an outdated law that allows an adult 鈥� a human being who is also vulnerable in his/her emotions and impulses 鈥� to strike a child with what he or she perceives as 鈥渞easonable鈥� during that heated moment.

We owe it to our village of children to advocate for parenting philosophies that promote our children feeling connected and secure, especially with their primary caregivers.

Tara Mihalech,

91原创