Recent events, such as the ones in Littleton, Colo., have shown us a general tendency for the nation's children to go ballistic more and more often. There is also a difference in the way we rear our children. While children are definitely a precious resource, it is dangerous to treat them this way, sheltering them from any form of punishment. Society has begun to place a taboo on all forms of corporal punishment.
Punishment is a necessary aspect of child rearing.
This is how we teach small children. Without punishment, a significant aspect of this equation is missing, and improper development occurs. As the child progresses, such punishments can be substituted with more mature ones, such as lecturing and grounding. Eventually the child develops the ability to choose between doing right and wrong based on the consequences of each choice. However, this development may be compromised by trying to push it on the child too early.