On the outside chance...........

..........that you'd actually debate, and even own an opinion, I'd
discuss this with either lil 'o' or the screeching monkeyboy.

So, what do you think? These people have a line they consider abusive,
no doubt, and I wonder just exactly where it is.

Do you, either of you, defend this brand of CP? If so, why?

http://stoptherod.net/ttuac.html

"To Train Up a Child" by Michael and Debi Pearl

This book reads like a child abuse manual. Throughout the book, the
Pearls recommend whipping *infants* and young children on their bare
skin. They do this for "obedience training," and compare it to
training a dog or mule to obtain "instant, unquestioning obedience."
They say ALL children need to be whipped with a "rod." They clearly
dislike babies calling them "tyrants" "terrorists" "whining, spoiled
brats" and "devious", with "criminal minds." According to the Pearls'
sick thinking, babies are determined to make parents' lives "as
miserable as possible." Obviously the Pearls have not read the New
Testament, which contains Jesus' command to "take care that you do not
despise one of these little ones!" Mt. 18:10 In fact, the Pearls have
no religious credentials whatsoever!! And no child development
credentials either. Their first two children are often held up as
examples of how baby-whipping "works", but these young people were not
subjected to their evil training techniques.

"To Train Up a Child" is being sold at Amazon.com, and at Barnes &
Noble. Please take a moment to write a one star review of it at:
Amazon: Pearls Review Form and at Barnes and Noble: Pearls Review
Form
Barnes and Noble doesn't accept reviews that include comments on the
authors, so best to leave out the Pearls' names.

Here are some references:

1) The Pearls recommend whipping infants only a few months old on their
bare skin. They describe whipping their own 4 month old daughter (p.9).
They recommend whipping the bare skin of "every child" (p.2) for
"Christians and non-Christians" (p.5) and for "every transgression"
(p.1). Parents who don't whip their babies into complete submission are
portrayed as indifferent, lazy, careless and neglectful (p.19) and are
"creating a Nazi" (p.45).

2) On p.60 they recommend whipping babies who cannot sleep and are
crying, and to never allow them "to get up." On p.61 they recommend
whipping a 12 month old girl for crying. On p.79 they recommend
whipping a 7 month old for screaming.

3) On p.65 co-author Debi Pearl whips the bare leg of a 15 month old
she is babysitting, 10 separate times, for not playing with something
she tells him to play with. On p.56 Debi Pearl hits a 2 year old so
hard "a karate chop like wheeze came from somewhere deep inside."

4) On p.44 they say not to let the child's crying while being hit to
"cause you to lighten up on the intensity or duration of the spanking."
On p.59 they recommend whipping a 3 year old until he is "totally
broken."

5) On p.55 the Pearls say a mother should hit her child if he cries for
her.

6) On p.46 the Pearls say that if a child does obey before being
whipped, whip them anyway. And "if you have to sit on him to spank him,
then do not hesitate. And hold him there until he is surrendered. Prove
that you are bigger, tougher." "Defeat him totally." On p.80 they
recommend giving a child having a tantrum "a swift *forceful*
spanking." On the same page they say to whip small children on their
bare skin until they stop screaming. "Don't be bullied. Give him more
of the same." They say to continue whipping until their crying turns
into a "wounded, submissive whimper."

7) On p.47 they recommend their various whips, including "a belt or
larger tree branch" to hit children.

8) The Pearls recommend pulling a nursing infant's hair (p.7), and
describe tripping their non-swimming toddler so she falls into deep
water (p.67). They recommend ignoring an infant's bumped head when he
falls to the floor, and ignoring skinned knees (p.86). They also say
"if your child is roughed-up by peers, rejoice." (p.81) And on p.103
the Pearls say if children lose their shoes, "let them go without until
they (the children) can make the money to buy more."

9) The Pearls claim their "training" methods are Godly, yet they have
*no religious training or credentials* They never mention Jesus'
injunctions to forgive "seventy times seven" and be merciful, and they
decry the "extraordinary ingnorance of modern psychology."

The Pearls' methods have resulted in parents being investigated by
Child Protective Services, children being taken away from parents, a
restraining order against a father, and even a babysitter going to jail
on felony charges!

Please write a review at Amazon: Pearls Review Form and/or Barnes and
Noble: Pearls Review Form The whole book can be read on-line at:
Hokkai: Train Up a Child

Your review will send a message to those parents who might be tempted
to try whipping their babies into total submission! It's even illegal
to treat pets that way!!

Thank you everyone!! Please also see the Pearl's other babywhipping
book, No Greater Joy.

Stop The Rod

"It's a matter of taking the side of the weak against the strong,
something the best people have always done." - Harriet Beecher Stowe

IMPORTANT ADDENDUM
Michael and Debi Pearl have recently been investigated by the
Department of Human Services in Tennessee, and a detective with the
Tennessee government (the Pearls live in Pleasantville, TN). The
Pearls also claim their website has been interfered with. We at Stop
the Rod have not been involved in these efforts. There are many people
who are deeply concerned about the unGodly baby-whipping and child
abuse the Pearls promote, and profit from.
Return to Stop the Rod Homepage