[10Kobo]

Nwanza,
a few response.
Why should children be allowed to use Cain on other children?
Answer: Never, they are not matured enough to draw the line between "abuse and correction". The blind cannot lead another blind. Some Teachers are not even 'maturely-qualified' to even do so! Maturity of the mind and soul is what is implied here, not of age.

Why should children be whipped for being a tad late to school?
Answer: Never; it is not necessary, there are other ways of motivating children to come early to school. The parents are actually the culprit here and should be held responsible for such lateness. You ensure they sleep on time and wake-up with enough time for bath, dress-up and breakfast and off to school they go.

Why should children be made to kneel down for hours?
Answer: Never; this qualifies as an "Abuse". It cannot achieve any desired objective and its just plain ignorance and wickedness. You solve a problem by looking at the cause. In my son's example above, l actually realized that his delinquency was due to bad association, l ensured he does not hob-nob with those boys and l also informed the parents of the boys so they can also do the 'needful' concerning their own ward. I also informed their Teacher in class so she can also keep an eye on all of them.

Why do we use these ineffective and primordial means of correction?
Answer: if the "use of cane" is what you refer to as 'primordial', l will respectfully opine that you are wrong. Being as old as the Religious books does not take away from its effectiveness. The Christian Ten commandments, despite being ancient, if religiously followed, is enough to cater for all human tribulations we face today but l guess its not the "rules" that are the problem, its how we "interpret and apply" them, that present challenges.

The generalization that 'canning is bad or evil or is an abuse' is what l totally disagree with. Whether we like it or not, the precepts in all religious books, be it Christian, Islamic, Buddhism, e.t.c are written from inspiration.
For the one l am familiar with, the Bible says "Teach your Child, (early in life) and he would give you rest (later in life) italics mine.
Further to sayings are "Spare the rod, and spoil the child". 'Sparing the rod' is not akin to 'abusing the child' and is never intended as an excuse to maltreat a defenseless and vulnerable little creature, even if it came to the world through you.

It goes further to say "Fathers, do not exasperate your children, instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord" (Ephesians 6:4)
Am no preacher but l think if all Parents adhere to this simple principle, the issue of child abuse or wife abuse for that matter, may not arise at all.
Cheers & Thanks.
10Kobo