following the decision not to change the law on smacking in England and Wales. Except, of course, that they know that this sort of discipline is unacceptable - plus, if used against an adult it would result in prosecution!
Once again, the public has been asked if they want to be able to smack children, and the majority have said yes. Yet it is likely that general public opinion will not change until the law changes and until sufficient support is given to parents to help them find other ways of disciplining their children.
On radio phone-ins last week, comments made to justify smacking included 'well, you can't reason with a three-year-old' and 'parents have got to be able to discipline children' - as if there was no other way. As violence escalates around the world, why teach children that violence, rather than negotiation, is the way to respond to those who displease you?
We look at these issues and the approaches elsewhere in the UK and abroad in News (page 4) and Special Report (pages 10-11).