By Valerie Georgewill
A recent Supreme Court ruling on spanking has thrown into relief cultural differences surrounding how some Canadians handle their children.
In its 6-3 decision last month, the Supreme Court of Canada upheld a parent’s right to spank children between the ages of two and 13.
But some in Ottawa’s African community complain the ruling goes too far in limiting how parents can react to misbehaving youngsters.
“Why not 15?” asks Enoka Bainomugisha, a Ugandan living in Ottawa who has raised five sons in Canada.
“A child is just like a tree which should be given freedom to grow — but even a tree is pruned.”
But the newly restrictive decision on spanking is eroding a parent’s ability to discipline children — as some Africans say their culture dictates — members of the African Spiritual Fellowship say.
Started 10 years ago as a way for Africans in Ottawa to get together and discuss the challenges of adapting to Canada, the fellowship meets once a month in a church on Somerset Street.
Now, the issue of spanking and corporal punishment has the group buzzing again after the Supreme Court of Canada’s decision.
The discussion centres on how much African culture to leave behind and what they should cling to in raising their children.
“Sometimes, you let kids figure out things on their own, other times, it may not be in their best interest,” says Bainomugisha.
He provides the example of a child who wants to fly from the sixth floor despite being told not to.
“The consequence of spanking is less than death,” he says. “It’s a punishment of last resort.”
Bainomugisha adds: “They don’t want a child having that temporary discomfort of spanking, but delinquency is acceptable.”
Florence Brake is another member of the group and a mother of two who shares Bainomugisha’s view.
“We cane to discipline, not to hurt,” she says.
Brake also explains an African philosophy behind disciplining children.
“We believe children belong to the full community, so neighbours can correct children as well,” she says.
Paul Adams, a spokesperson for the Children’s Aid Society of Ottawa, says spanking a child is unacceptable.
“We do understand different cultures have different ways but we try to make them understand it’s not OK to hit a child,” Adams says.
He says spanking a child sends the wrong message that it’s OK for people to hit each other.
Catherine Hakim is an African mother who brings a different perspective to the issue.
“I actually don’t spank my kids,” she says.
“When Africans come to Canada, children pick up habits like speaking back to parents,” says Hakim. “Obviously knowing it’s hard to spank children here, children become out of control.”
She says people have to learn different ways of dealing with children.
She adds that spanking shouldn’t be used frequently because children develop an immunity to it.
Bainomugisha blames dysfunctional families on the lack of discipline and enforcement of rules in homes.
“If those boys at Columbine had been spanked, they would not have committed those horrible crimes,” he says.