Title Details

Dr Bernadette Saunders is a Senior Research Fellow at Child Abuse Prevention Research Australia, and Senior Lecturer in the Department of Social Work, Monash University where she teaches Law and Social Justice. She received an Australian Postgraduate Award, and the support of the Australian Childhood Foundation, to pursue her doctoral research on physical punishment.

Professor Chris Goddard is Director of Child Abuse Prevention Research Australia, Monash University. His previous book Human Rights Overboard: Seeking Asylum in Australia (with Linda Briskman and Susie Latham, 2008) won the Australian Human Rights Literature Non-Fiction Award.

Acknowledgements.

1 Introduction.

2 Childhood and physical punishment in historical perspective.

3 Legal responses to physical punishment.

4 Conducting sensitive and ethical research with children and adults.

5 Experiences of physical punishment at home, at school and in public places.

6 Public and professional perceptions of the effectiveness of physical punishment.

7 The subjugation of children through language and physical punishment.

8 The effects of physical punishment.

9 The persistence of physical punishment.

10 The morality of physical punishment.

11 An ideal childhood.

References.

Index.

"Publications such as...Physical Punishment in Childhood should help to educate professionals and the public, and advance the cause of children's rights in the United States and the world." (PsycCRITIQUES, December 2010)

"It provides a very good summary of the history, language, impact and legal responses to physical punishment of children in Sweden and various English-speaking countries, with particular attention to Australia, the authors' country of residence. The strength and real contribution of the book lies, however, in the presentation of the views of children-voices that are generally not heard in the debate about this contentious issue though they are the ones who bear the brunt of this form of punishment. In this book, they are given equal standing with those of the adults-the parents and the professionals." (Child Abuse Review, 2010) "How refreshing to see this topic thoughtfully discussed from the child’s point of view. Using the voices of children, parents and professionals Bernadette Saunders and Chris Goddard demonstrate that children have a right to live in environments where they are loved, nurtured and valued rather than in an environment where their development is overshadowed by the fear of physical punishment. An important book."
—Kim Oates, MD DSc, FRCP FRACP, Emeritus Professor, University of Sydney

"This is an excellent comprehensive account, not only of the issues relating to physical punishment, but of the views and feelings of parents and children about it. It should be compulsory reading for those who are concerned with overcoming this problem because of the insights it gives into the motivation of parents and others who continue to use physical punishment of children. Importantly it stresses the need for education and support and confirms my view that any legal solution should be seen as part of that education process."
—The Hon Alastair Nicholson AO RFD QC, Former Chief Justice, Family Court of Australia; Chair, National Centre Against Bullying (Australia); Patron of EPOCH, Tasmania; Honorary Professorial Fellow, University of Melbourne