Excellect story documenting the psychology of abusive social workers.
National Post, July 12, 2001
Last week, at the behest of child welfare workers, police wrenched seven frightened children, aged six to 14, from their
Southern Ontario home -- apparently because their parents refused to promise not to spank them. When the dust settles,
this may turn out to be a textbook example of how the social work profession, consumed by anti-spanking fervour,
traumatized these children needlessly. Anyone who thinks turning young children's lives upside down is preferable to mild
corporal punishment has lost the ability to imagine what it must be like to be plunged into a world of strangers at the age of
eight.
Pastor says CAS action against Bible-sanctioned spanking is barbaric.
National Post, July 14, 2001
On July 4, 2001 nearly 70 friends and neighbours watched as social workers forcibly dragged seven kicking and
screaming children from their home.
Judge refuses to reunite children, parents
7 children seized from home must remain in foster care
National Post, July 10, 2001
They would not say what made the situation dangerous, but Mr. Hildebrandt had previously said the parents simply refused
to promise never to hit the children with switches -- a disciplinary tactic he says is outlined in the Bible.
Anti-spanking advocates say it may be legal when it's done with a bare hand, but using a blunt object is nothing short of
child abuse.
National Post, July 10, 2001
Last week, social workers and police officers wrenched seven terrified children from their home in Aylmer, Ont. Aged six
to 14, the three girls and four boys are in foster homes pending a court date in two and a half weeks.
Adults who recall being disciplined with wooden spoons, belts or other implements during their childhoods may not
remember such occasions fondly. But it is unlikely that spanking proved as traumatic as being torn away from one's
parents. This seizure will remain forever in the minds of these seven children. It is no small matter for a six-year-old to be
removed screaming in terror from her parents' arms. It is no small matter to be separated from one's siblings, housed with
strangers, and advised that your parents pose a danger to you. Nightmares, distrust of authority figures, and misplaced
guilt are the least of the after-effects with which these youngsters will likely wrestle in coming months.
There has to be a terribly good reason, such as evidence physical injury, to justify snatching children from their parents. If
the evidence shows there was no such justification, those responsible for Aylmer should be snatched from their jobs.
Kids' removal worse than spanking: critic
National Post, July 7, 2001
"It's about the most disgraceful thing I've seen in my life," said Ernie Timmins, who was fertilizing his lawn next door when
the police cruisers arrived. "There was a six-year-old girl with policemen carrying her by her arms and her legs and the
fear in that kid's face was unbelievable. The screeching was so unbearable that I had to leave."
...
Steve Bailey, the executive director of Family and Children's Services of St. Thomas and Elgin, said mere spanking is not
enough to even warrant an investigation. Although he would not speak specifically about this case, he said injuries or
weapons would have to be evident before his staff would take action.
...
Added Mr. Rushfeldt: "If it's proven that there was no physical abuse that was taking place in that home, there should be
charges laid against the government officials who very intrusively went into this family and disrupted it."
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