Interview 4

After sending my initial survey request to student 4, I got the following response:

Hello B,

Sorry it took me so long to respond. At Chamberlain-Hunt, we don't have access to facebook, and I just got on break. I would be more than happy to answer some questions for you. Now, I've stayed out of trouble and haven't been the recipient of corporal discipline as of yet, but I have witnessed the way it affects some of my schoolmates. What is your position (for or against) on corporal discipline?

Sincerely,
R

I sent the survey back to him, encouraging him to answer from what he knew about others' experiences. He didn't quite do that, but instead focused on his own childhood spankings.

1. Did you receive corporal punishment whilst growing up?
I did receive corporal punishment in the form of spankings when I was younger, and I have friends who have and do receive it at school.

2. If so, do you feel that corporal punishment worked for you? What sort of effects, if any, did it have on your behavior?
I think it did work for me, and it made me want to behave better.

3. Do you feel that corporal punishment was the best punitive option for you, or might other forms of punishment have worked better?
At the time, I believe it was the best. I wasn't at the age yet where anything could be taken from me for discipline, and spankings generally got my attention. Also, groundings or things taken away as disciplinary measures normally made/make me mad, whereas corporal discipline was over and done with, I got the message, and it actually helped me to love my parents more.

4. How frequently did you experience corporal punishment at home or at school (rarely, monthly, weekly, etc.)?
I received corporal discipline as needed. When I misbehaved or disobeyed, I would receive spankings, generally from my dad.

5. Under what circumstances was corporal punishment administered? (For all offences, only major offences, etc.)
It wasn't administered for all offenses, but they (my parents) were not afraid to give it when I needed it.

6. Do you feel that embarrassment or humiliation played a part in these punishments? Or was it strictly the infliction of pain?
Embarrassment or humiliation didn't play a huge role in the discipline. It was mainly the pain that made me want to not get another spanking.

7. Did you feel fear toward those who administered the punishments (before, during, after, always, etc.)
I felt fear to a certain extent, but all discipline was done in love, and I somewhat understood that even at a young age. After virtually every spanking that I remember, I immediately hugged the parent who administered the discipline. I didn't like getting spankings, and I cried after many of them, but I loved my parents even more. So while I did somewhat fear what they could do, I knew that they loved me and it even helped me to love them back.

8. Where did you receive corporal punishment (at home, school, etc.) Do you feel that it was appropriate in these locations?
I received it generally at home, in a room with no one else. And I did feel like it was appropriate.

9. On what portion(s) of your anatomy was corporal punishment administered? Was clothing removed or left in place during punishments? If clothing was removed, did you feel that this was appropriate?
Corporal discipline was generally administered on the rear. Clothing was occasionally removed, but not so much in my cases. Since it was my parents, I did feel like it was appropriate.

10. What implements (if any) were used? (Paddle, belt, etc.) Did you feel that these were appropriate?
My dad sometimes used his belt. It hurt, but it was appropriate. It was meant to get my attention, and it certainly did.

11. What positions were you required to adopt for the punishment (over a knee, bent over, etc.)? Did you feel that this position was appropriate?
They had me bend over sometimes. And it was appropriate in that it became an easier position to administer the discipline and helped to get my attention.

12. From whom did you receive corporal punishment? (Parents, teachers, etc.)
I received it from my parents, but now I do have schoolmates who receive it from school administrators.

13. Did you ever feel that punishments were abusive or inappropriate?
No, I always believe it was appropriate. Sometimes it may seem like they're just being strict or overbearing, but looking back I know that they always had a good reason.

14. Would you use corporal punishment on your children or encourage others to use it on them?
Yes I would. I know its effects from feeling it from my parents and seeing my schoolmates' reactions to it, and I do believe the statement "Spare the rod, spoil the child" is a true one. I know how it can help, so I would use it and encourage others to do so.

15. Between what ages did you receive corporal punishment? Did you receive it more so at certain ages? Did
the degree or style of punishment alter with age?
I received it moreso when I was younger, but not so much because of my age, but more because I got the picture as I got older. I started doing what I was supposed to do, and it was no longer as necessary. And as I got older, my dad began to make it somewhat more painful to get my attention more (i.e. by using his belt).

16. Did punishments ever result in marks (redness, welts, stripes, bruises, etc.)?
I didn't notice any marks, but the discipline wasn't in an area that I could see readily.

17. How many swats/strokes/slaps did you generally receive? Did it vary based on the offence?
I received different numbers of licks depending on what I did. Sometimes 3, sometimes 5 - it varied to a point. It was generally between 3 and 5 though.

18. Did others witness your punishments or were they kept private? Were others aware of your punishments (as in able to hear them taking place or hear about them through word of mouth)? Was it appropriate that others saw/heard/knew about these punishments?
The discipline was administered in private. Sometimes my siblings knew I was getting spanked, but I don't remember a single time they were allowed to see it. And I thought that it was appropriate that they knew about it, because they received the same thing and it showed that I wasn't getting special treatment.

19. Did you witness/hear about others being punished? Did you feel it was appropriate, if so?
I knew about some times when my siblings received spankings, and I thought it was appropriate because that was the discipline my parents chose to use, and I knew that they weren't getting treated better than I was.

20. After a paddling, how long would pain/discomfort last? (Ten minutes, and hour, a few days, etc.) Did you have to refrain from sitting, etc.?
The pain itself might have lasted for a few minutes, and I could sit down fine, but I remembered the pain and didn't want to have to feel it again.

I hope this helps! All in all, I think corporal discipline is effective, it gets the point across, and as long as it's done in love and not in an abusive manner then I support it as a manner of discipline.