PARENTS: Do you think spanking a child because of bad grades is acceptable?

I think that if a child gets bad grades due to laziness, like, not studying, not doing homework, not paying attention and class, then a spanking is appropriate, up until age 12 or 13.

But if they are really struggling with the material, then that is something different, and a child should not be punished for that, but instead should get help.

I think that if a child gets below a C, then you should take away things like TV, video games, cell phone, and computer is only for schoolwork, until their grades improve.

It's not acceptable at all. While I turned out to be an upstanding member of society, I wasn't spanked because I made bad grades. I didn't make bad grades. I don't believe spanking is necessary. Certainly pain is a deterrent for most people outside of the masochists in society, however you have to understand what's behind the bad grades before dishing out physical punishment. If a child is not understanding the work, then there needs to be some sort of plan in place to assist the child. If the child is just not doing the work, there is a reason for that too. Spanking really never helps matters.

Well, first off, I think spanking any school-aged child is not very effective. I understand a swat on the bottom when a child is still a toddler. But if they're old enough to be in school they can understand reason and can benefit from other punishments like groundings or losing privileges.

But in any case, you need to find out why they have bad grades in the first place, before you just go punishing them. Some kids have learning disabilities. And, almost everyone is going to have certain subjects that they are not naturally good at and that they will struggle with more. If they are trying hard and doing the best they can then it's unreasonable to punish them. Spanking or punishing them in any way is just going to make their anxiety worse, knowing that no matter how much they try, they can't please their parents. And that might just result in even worse grades.

Of course, a child who is intentionally being lazy and not studying or doing their homework is a different matter. But again, I don't think spanking is the way to go by this age. I think the obvious first step to take would be to take away whatever is distracting them from their schoolwork (cell phone, video games, TV, etc.) and not let them have them back until they show improvement.

Bad Spankings

Good grades should be more of an incentive based program where they try and get good grades to earn an incentive to keep them motivated. If you give a spanking for bad grades that isn't something that is likely going to improve their motivating. The reason being is if they are struggling in the term and all they have to worry about when not pulling up their grades is getting a few swats it isn't likely they are going to consider that punishment as enough motivate to improve. Also, part of grades and success is teaching the child to become more independent of their parents and once they get to high school and spankings don't hurt anymore the punishment wouldn't be enough to encourage them even if it did in the first place.

I think a bonus in allowance or an extra special privilege such as getting to go on a mini vacation or to like an amusement park at the end of the term if their grades are up, and if they don't meet the expectation having to stay home while the other kids in the family get to go is punishment enough for not getting good grades.

I think if bad grades are do to pure laziness and not studying, lying about homework, and upcoming tests then a spanking is appropriate (for up to a certain age). That is my opinion and then I would tell the kids on their next test/homework assignment if they get __% we will go out for dinner somewhere fun but if they get below a C their will be consequences. A carrot and the stick approach. I will of course help them with homework/studying in any way.

If a child is honestly struggling with the material that is something different and doesn't need punishment as long as the child is working to the best of his or her ability whatever that may be.

Spanking is never acceptable. It just teaches children to be aggressive, sneaky, and very angry (even if temporarily compliant). It also teaches them that hitting is okay.

If a parent delegate some of their educational responsibility to the school, then grades are between the child and his teachers. The parents' role is to encourage, to offer unconditional love, and to give support whether or not the child is academic and hard-working. It's the child's problem if he does badly in school - parents should offer sympathy, not become angry.

Hmm... does spanking a child make the child smarter, or teach them how to do the homework?

My parents were the same way. The only thing their spanking for grades accomplished, is that I became very good, very fast at forging my mother's signature.

I was spanked for bad grades. As I got older I ALWAYS got the honor roll, but only because I was afraid of getting the belt at home. Now I am in university and I do not push myself nearly as hard anymore. A 3.0 GPA is just fine with me,but when I was in K-12 I always had to strive for a 4.0 GPA.

No. Spankings ought to happen right after a bad behavior. Bad grades happen over time. So i find it to be wrong for a child to be spanked on one occasion for weeks and months of bad behavior. Instead a parent ought to find ways to improve grades as opposed to punishing bad grades.