Protect the children

By ERINN WHITE

Monday, June 17, 2002, Page A14

Guelph, Ont. -- I felt a great deal of concern as I read Margaret Wente's Saturday column (Children Of A Greater God). As someone who has spent a lot of time working with abused children in my community, I felt the column trivializes the experience of youth who survive abuse. Ms. Wente points out that the children are polite and well behaved, and that the family supports higher education. Certainly, these things could be true. However, to say that this justifies striking children and violating their most basic rights is unfounded.

Unfortunately Canadian law is not yet progressive enough to take a stance against assaulting our children, although safeguards are in place to protect partners, the general public and animals. The "malign effects exaggerated by the anti-spanking lobby" are very real indeed. We need to take real steps to protect the children's rights, and to recognize their valuable contributions. Above all, we need to provide them with the opportunity to learn and to grow, and to realize their limitless potential as they choose.