There's a fine line between spanking and breaking a wooden hairbrush over a little girl's head for dawdling before school. Maybe a few smacks on the bottom is harmless, if not humiliating, but aren't there more intelligent and productive ways to discipline? Most corporal punishments are angry parental reactions repeating their own childhood memories. That said, it takes a very strong person to have patience for children all the time, and for those who do, I have the utmost respect.