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Daily Talker: Kansas Law Would Allow Harder Spanking

Teachers in Kansas would have more power to spank children under a bill introduced in the state legislature.

Currently, state law allows teachers, other caregivers and parents to spank children, as long as it is not hard enough to leave marks. Under the bill by Kansas House member Gail Ginney, a Democrat from Wichita, the law would allow up to ten strikes of the hand, and smacks that are hard enough to cause redness and bruising.

Rep. Finney says the bill is designed to restore parental rights, by making it clear in the law what parents can legally do when punishing their own children. It also extends those rules to anyone given permission by a parent to spank their children, including teachers.

Some say the issue is past its time. "Now we have research that shows it is less effective than time out," said Amy Terreros with Children's Mercy Hospital in Kansas City. "It tends to lead to more aggressive behavior with a child."

Kansas is one of a handful of states where corporal punishment is legal in schools.

We want to know: would you ever give someone else permission to spank your child as a form of punishment? Why or why not? Share your comments below, and watch for them on WBZ News in the Morning from 4:30 to 7:00 am.

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