to think that this is torture? (Warning - Extremely distressing video)

[FelicityR313]

www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/mummy-help-me-mother-told-7760043?ICID=FB_mirror_main

So this happened in Georgia, where corporal punishment is allowed.

Basically, if the mother didn't agree to the boy getting a 'spanking', they would have had to suspend him and since the child has already missed 18 days, the mother would have been jailed.

Ok, in fairness it sounds like he was being very bold, but good God, can this be allowed?

Warning, if you do watch the video, you will probably feel very distressed, so don't blame me if you do! Kinda half sorry I watched it myself

I find my first visit to Georgia in the mid 90s very eye opening. My aunt once missed a family gathering because she had two black eyes courtesy of my uncle - I was a child at the time (12/13 ish) and was horrified that rather than being as horrified by this as I was everyone (all 100 or so family members and friends) were laughing about it and saying oh well you have to keep your wife in line.... ! There was a definite feeling that she should be ashamed of herself and keep herself hidden. It was horrendous.

I don't think things have moved on much since then to be honest. It is very much a white mans world in Georgia and the Deep South.

""Well it is distressing and the boy is clearly upset but it's definitely not torture""

It is, because of the amount of distress that they've caused him and they've reinforced the message that his Mum can't protect him. I thought only a peadophile would ever say such a thing to a child.

It's emotional as well as physical abuse.

The coldness of both of the Women is chilling, to such a young child's distress.

Hitting a child with a massive, thick piece of wood like this? That's not a 'swat on a clothed bum', it looks more like drawing blood.

Lesson taught to child -

(a) it's perfectly acceptable to coldly and calmly inflict pain on someone else.

(b) it's perfectly acceptable to inflict pain on those who are younger or physically weaker than you.

(c) you cannot trust adults that are meant to care for you.

Fairylea I bet you're glad your Mum got out of there!

Am I correct in thinking that Georgia is part of what they refer to as the bible-belt area?

Gosh that's terrifying :(

Could I hear someone laughing at the distress of the child?

I honestly believe this not could happen in the UK, not because it would be illegal, but because I believe there is not a teacher currently working who could perform such an act

Could I hear someone laughing at the distress of the child
In this sick and twisted world I wouldn't be at all shocked
YY to ice

I wonder if this cruelty actually stops kids from punching others, given that their very long prison sentences and death penalty do not deter adults from committing violent crimes? I very much doubt it.

I can't bring myself to watch it a second time to see if they are laughing. Once was more than enough. What's sticking with me is the shame and humiliation of it all. Poor little lad was distressed they were going to pull his trousers down. I'm just not the better of it to be honest.

FrogFairy I suspect this cruelty actually leaves them fucked up enough to become criminals.

My mum wanted to leave Georgia because of all of this sort of stuff. Thank goodness she did! Yes it is very much a bible-belt area.

Facebook is full of support pages for the head teacher / principal. "We stand for Mrs Edge" and also the other side - "justice for Thomas berryhill". Lots of people saying that because the mum was a much less than perfect parent the principal was doing the job she should have done! Regardless of the mums parenting, two wrongs do not make a right. I feel sorry for the little boy in so many ways.

Poor little lad was distressed they were going to pull his trousers down. I'm just not the better of it to be honest.

Didn't look like they wanted to pull his trousers down. Just wanted his top up out of the way

Still wrong though. I couldn't have stood there

They wouldnt have dared to.jail.her.

Don't count on it. This is Georgia.

Thank you RosieSW. I'm not sure why I shared today. I felt so helpless. Sort of thought it was a pointless post to be honest. If the poor little lad's plight raises awareness and changes these barbaric laws, then that's something positive for him.

Those... women were laughing at his attempts to protect himself. At his distress.
The way they spoke to him "it's okay baby" don't worry about the fact that we are going to pin you down and hit you. And that if he keeps squirming he'll be hit more.

I honestly feel sick since watching that. Those people were foul, are foul and should be no where near children.

19/50 (38%?) of states allow corporal punishment.

:(

That poor boy.

I will not watch this video. I don't want to see it.

What is most distressing is that the US is the most powerful country in the world yet has some of the most out of date and reactionary attitudes around. Racism, sexism, homophobia, xenophobia, capital punishment. Some ugly stuff.

Obviously this doesn't apply to all Americans, or even the majority, but I do feel in general the US is behind Europe in terms of liberalism, equality, human rights etc - and yet believes it is an authority on the world stage that can tell other countries what to do!

Thanks RosieSW. It would be great if corporal punishment was illegal in every US and EU state!

This is child abuse Absolutely. No question in my mind about that. Hitting a 5 year old, with a WEAPON. FFS.

There is a little boy in my child's class who hits and bites. He also misses a lot of school. Same age. It's shit but beating him wouldn't help.

That poor child. I looked it up on facebook and there are pictures of him flipping off the camera with his mum, so that's at least one age inappropriate behaviour he's exposed to at home - but learning shitty behaviours at home doesn't make it ok to spank him. If anything it could make his behaviour worse.

Aside from anything else he's surely too young to connect his misbehaviour with this spank - I assume there's been quite a gap between the two?

It seems the little boy is being failed on more than one front in that case IoraRua. A parenting class and SS involvement with the mother would be more effective I think, but who knows really. He seemed very well dressed in his little shorts and everything. Just the tiny little size of him though. Paddle was nearly as big as him. Can you imagine the terror that would instill in a small child?

I dunno sometimes Felicity. I work in a disadvantaged school and sometimes you can have all the parenting classes in the world (and some people take it on board), but some don't. For various reasons.
I would like to think that school and state are offering support to the family but I'm really not convinced by this vid. Poor little lad needs someone looking out for him.
Mind you what I also noticed is that mum has 88 tattooed on her (a NeoNazi symbol). I lost a lot of respect for her there.