Asians are better served with the ingrained respect due parents. Slavish copying of alien habits is implied in the research finding that four out of five parents would teach discipline by reasoning with their children rather than administering a firm smack if they behaved badly. In combination with a careful use of the cane, however, it could go down better. Six out of 10 parents said they opposed physical punishment, and about half were inclined to be lenient or would find it hard to punish misbehaving children. The trend is not helpful.
Nothing has changed, only pseudo-science and the babble of childhood specialists have.
So, never spare the rod. Soft handling can only turn out a generation of loutish, mean-spirited young adults. That would be surplus to Singapore's requirements. Singapore Press Holdings Ltd. All rights reserved.