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From: jacobson@fluke.UUCP (David Jacobson)
Newsgroups: net.kids,net.legal,net.politics
Subject: Re: corporal punishment in schools
Message-ID: <924@vax2.fluke.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 9-Sep-85 11:29:20 EDT
Article-I.D.: vax2.924
Posted: Mon Sep  9 11:29:20 1985
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> I make liberal use of "THE
> TIMER".  This is a version of the old "sit in the corner" routine which
> involves sitting (or in Anne's case standing) in the corner until the timer
> rings.  The developmental psych people say that the optimal amount of time is
> about equivalent to their age.  Therefore, 2-year olds get two minutes, 3-year
> olds get 3 minutes, etc.  Misbehaviour while in the corner simply adds time to
> the timer.  It seems pretty effective at home and Anne's Day Care uses it
> there, too.  I've never seen a better behaved bunch of kids! 
> 
> Sarah E. Dugan


I've never liked the timer approach, even though our pediatrician really
promotes it.  It is strictly punishement, having nothing to do with the
problem.  The kids get the message that adults are able to make me
miserable because they are bigger.  I prefer solutions that are directly
related to problems as possible.  If the kid disobeys (I hate that word)
and the result is some kind of mess, they may be required to help clean it
up (even if the adult could in fact do it faster themselves).  If they
misuse something, then it is taken away.  I'm not sure what to do about
things like hitting neighborhood kids.  Our 2.75 year old has a little
problem with this.  We keep talking to her about it.  ("People are not for
hitting.")  We always try to treat her will all the respect we would treat
an adult, as far as possible, given her age and experience.  

  -- David Jacobson
     ihnp4!uw-beaver!fluke!jacobson