Below is the information from both sides of the debate for the upcoming anti-smacking Referendum.
The VoteNO.org.nz website has information you need regarding the ‘NO’ side including
frequently asked questions,
quotes of interest,
summary of polls,
summary of media releases on this issue,
how to enrol,
background of the Referendum
even a cartoons page!
But there are also
FREE downloadable brochures and posters
(and banner adverts and sidebar adverts for your blogs and website). The brochures are even in other translations including Maori, Tongan, Samoan, Fijian, Chinese, and Hindi! Download them – photocopy – and distribute to family and friends!
Family First can also make the videos available to show to your group including Simon Barnett, Referendum proposer Sheryl Savill and Maori Child Advocate Bev Adair – simply email us admin@familyfirst.org.nz for the files.
There’s also a blog, they’re on Twitter, and a group of supporters have started a Facebook group
……………
The yesvote.org.nz website has information you need regarding the ‘YES’ side including
frequently asked questions,
their side of the referendum,
resources
media releases on this issue,
public awareness and attitude to the law
background of the Referendum
history of the child discipline law
But there are also
videos
free stuff, posters and stickers
banner ads
media kit
There’s also other websites, they’re on Twitter, and have a group of supporters.
So GET THE WORD OUT on what this Referendum is all about.
From Julie.
I seriously encourage you to have your say on this important issue. After all, single parents make up the most of CYFS clients.
What a shame. I stumbled upon the singleparents.org website (being rather delighted to find there was such a thing) and the first thing I find is this post which, at first glance, appears to be strong support for a ‘No’ vote in the smacking referendum from the site developers (The Trust?).
I do think that smacking should be a criminal offence as part of parenting. So I will vote yes. Is this post the opinion of the site developers or merely someone who wishes to have their say? I support the latter to post an opinion. But …if this site is strongly biased to a ‘no’ vote perhaps it’s best that I don’t browse further.
I’d be interested in your comments.
Carolyn
Carolyn, in case you have not noticed this is Forum similar to a Blog. Just as you are entitled to your opinion so are others including the moderator or site developer if you prefer.
This is still a democracy to some extent even if the majority of MPs think they know better how children should be raised than the children’s own parents.
80% of the general population do not want a smack on the legs or the bum to be a criminal offence. I collected many signatures. The majority of those who signed would have been parents. Many of them would have been grandparents who would not want their children made criminals because some know all busybody with a cell phone camera reported them for smacking a naughty and defiant toddler on the bum for playing up in the supermarket. The people who signed the petition would have come from wide range of backgrounds, races and cultures. There were police, teachers, social workers as well as labours and the unemployed.
If you disagree with the author, Julie you are free to say so and try to put up some logical reasons. I would suggest you try to be original. I have heard few original arguments. I mainly hear repeatedly, “if it is okay to smack a child why is it okay to smack a child”. My stock answer to that is that if you cannot work that out you are too dumb to be raising children.
That is not to say that I am would have the cheek to tell a parent that their child needs a smack. That is their choice. Some parents are fortunate to have very compliant and obedient children that would never require a smack.
While I would not want it to appear that I am speaking for Julia I suggest you look at some of her other posts. You will see this is what might be called a conservative type of forum. I do not think she is going to change her thinking because of one person. However I could be wrong.
For those who intend to vote No or who are undecided Rodney Hide invites you to his Constituent Forum. The theme: “anti smacking referendum”
Special Guest speaker: Bob McCoskrie, National Director, Family First
Will speak on “Why the Referendum Answer is No”
http://section59.blogspot.com/2009/07/why-referendum-answer-is-no.html
Hi Carolyn, thanks for making your comment. I didn’t choose to post the ‘YES’ sides campaign for a number of reasons.
1. It doesn’t represent all the groups that are bound to agree with it just to keep their funding.
2. Most charity organisations and feminist leaders I know don’t agree in making parents criminals over this and phoning CYFS on their clients if they are inconsequential events.
3. Single mothers are sometimes the least educated in society. They are doing their best to raise their children alone and pay the bills. I for one am not going to phone the police on them for a light smack. Especially if the child was in a situation that was dangerous.
4. Single parents make up many CYFS caregivers. Already they are under pressure if they accidental scratch a child when stopping them from harming themselves. These children are supposedly damaged before CYFS intervenes and caregivers have to deal with some serious behavioural issues.
5. To say ‘NO’ to making parents criminals is not saying, “Smacking is the best solution”. I think smacking is already on it’s way out and I think we should promote better ways instead of criminalising.
I could go on and on but really the referendum is about an adjustment in the law. It is about power to take children off parents. We say today that the police have the right to determine if a smack or scratch or push or harsh word is wrong but what we forget is that society will put pressure on police if they ever hear of a case where police were called and something further down the track happened. It will be just like CYFS social workers. CYFS social workers don’t take chances because they will lose their job if they make an imperfect decision.
In the same way police will be afraid and in the end they will criminalise all parents they receive a complaint about.
………..
These laws are made to protect children but in the end they destroy children because society goes overboard. It happens all the time.
The bad don’t stop being bad because of a law. But lots and lots of decent people get caught up in the system. It is a real tragedy that I don’t want on my hands and I just ask you to think beyond the ‘smacking issue’.
Yet, it is your vote and just for the fact you take this seriously enough to use that vote I applaud you.
And when this is over we will all still get along. Our support for each other won’t fade because we disagree on an issue.
Julie, I would disagree that smacking is on its way out. I think the amount of times good parents smack for discipline will reduce. However, I cannot see it disappearing for a long time yet. I believe particularly for young children below the age of reason it can be very effective. It is a bit silly to threaten child with the loss of a toy for 2 hours when they are too young to really have a concept of time. Whether smacking is at all effective depends on the child. With some children it may not be necessary or even counterproductive. A parent is a better judge or this than possible a very young police officer whose brain has not even fully developed.
This is only my opinion and experts disagree. Most cannot see any positive benefits from a sharp smack but I have yet to see any proper research showing that an occasional smack does any harm to a child. However, there is good research to show that there is no lasting harm to a child as the result of moderate and infrequent smacking.
Hi Chuck, thank you for making comments on this also. They are interesting.
I hear where you are coming from and I agree with you. Gosh, look at what has happened to ‘The nanny’. They even say she is abusive for using the ‘naughty corner’ or ‘naughty chair’. What is wrong with time out?
It is already going overboard.
Hi Julie
Thank you for your well-reasoned response and while I’ll never agree that smacking is part of good parenting I defend the rights of others to make that choice for themselves. An open mind is all I ask.
I am a single parent of two children who are now teens. I’ve raised them on my own since they were babies. In that time I have worked full-time, completed a Masters degree and will soon complete my PhD studies. I feel that I am reaching a time in my life when I’ll be able to actively engage in something that may help others.
I believe that single parents in this country get little support and would enjoy joining any group to advocate for the well-being of New Zealand’s single parents. I am not sure how to begin.
Any help appreciated
warmest regards
Carolyn
Hi again Carolyn, it would be wonderful to catch up with you. I’d enjoy to hear what you are up to with your studies and talk about single parents.
When you have some free time phone me…
I also think it would be more fair if both options YES and NO were posted to give ALL people a choice. It feels to me that there is a pressure here to vote No which is your own personal choice. We all have a say so give us the options and post a Yes link here too.
@sara
That’s a very good point Sara. In all fairness we have the obligation to look into this and take our vote very seriously. I should have added both and I will fix the post to include both. Thanks for saying.
I have never smacked my child for the simple reason being that it would break her heart. I can’t believe the issue is even up for debate.
Hi Tracey
Here is a site link for the Yes view
http://yesvote.org.nz/