French the Worst for Smacking Children
Visitors to France who are tempted to admire the impeccable manners and subdued behaviour common among French children may reflect that this result is often obtained at a sinister cost.
French parents are the most heavy-handed in Europe according to a study this week which shows that practically the entire French population suffered a spanking or at least a smack as a child, and nearly nine out of ten adults have administered one.
In addition, nearly a quarter of French parents have slapped their children on the face and 10 per cent admit to punishing their offspring with a “martinet”, a small whip resembling a cat o’ nine tails, according to the Union of Families in Europe (UFE).
The martinet is still widely on sale in France. An alarming 30 per cent of French children said they had been punished with a martinet according to the survey.
The UFE survey of 2,000 French grandparents, parents and children found that within the three generations 95 per cent of adults and 96 per cent of children have been smacked.
It found that 84 per cent of grandparents and 87 per cent of parents have administered the punishment.
Some 58 per cent of grandparents admitted to itching to give their grandchildren an occasional smack.
“The figures are impressive. Basically we have all been smacked. Even more surprising is that most people - even children - think the smacks they got were fair,” said UEF’s Marie-Françoise Sabellico.
According to the study, 62 per cent of grandparents, 64 per cent of parents and 55 per cent of children think that the smacks they received were deserved. (…)
“It is scientifically proven that corporal punishment of all kinds harms the child. A smack is never to improve the child and always to relieve the parent,” said Jacqueline Cornet of the French campaigning group No Hits No Smacks.
The situation does not look likely to improve with future generations. When asked how they planned to discipline their own children when they become parents, 64 per cent of French children responded “the same”.
Source: Scotsman, United Kingdom
http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/international.cfm?id=1914792007
March 10th, 2008 at 4:36 PM
In France do the have smacking in schools? I am currently writing an essay on the smacking debate and would appreciate more knowledge about France. I am comparing the differences and similarities of france and England.
Thankyou, Jehna
June 6th, 2008 at 12:12 AM
How horrifying. What makes the French hate children so much that they routinely batter them? Why hasn’t the European Union gotten involved more and demanded that France put a stop to child abuse? I could never visit this country knowing how they treat their children.