I'm all in favor of stopping abuse where it exists; unfortunately, etowntomilton, it is much easier to see where there are problems with a system and much more difficult to actually step in and make a difference. actually, I am guessing that people are afraid to do so because of issues such as in this report. There is controversy when attempting to establish acceptable forms of discipline within a community when everyone has been raised with differing styles of discipline.

All of these experts should volunteer to be a foster parent. There's an incredible shortage.

I was spanked as a child and in no way did it leave any kind of emotional scars. There is a big difference between punishment and abuse, but unfortunately in today's society any kind of spanking even if it is open handed is called abuse. Kids know this and are taught this and will use it all the time against a parent and is why so many kids now days run amok. Kids now days have little respect for any adult including their own parent/parents. If I spoke to my parents the way kids speak now day's my mouth would have been washed out with soap and grounded to my room for a month.

about the only thing I ever agreed with Newt Gingrich on: children who are victims of abuse/neglect, etc. would be best served by placement in "orphanage" type homes. CPS workers would have one home to visit, would have better "control" over the quality of care and its workers. Oversight would have to be conducted by both advocates of children's rights and safety AND those with the interest of having proper rules of acceptable behavior in the home. I know many foster parents, and I believe that the majority of foster parents DO have the best of intentions for their foster children; however, there are those who do it only for the money and know how to "put on their game face" in the presence of CPS and Rock County Social Workers. and it is sad that those people give Foster Parenting such a bad name...it's difficult to love someone else's child, especially when there are behavior problems.

How is it that the DA says that there were ligitimate CPS issues, but that it was not criminal... So he's saying, this parent was wrong, but only a "little" wrong? This is why nobody knows what is acceptable/unacceptable in the eyes of law enforcement now a days. There should be clean cut rules, and honestly they should teach parents these rules when you have children, because I'm sorry, as a kid I was spanked, all the time. Did I grow up to be a delinquent, heck no! I knew the wrath of my parents and respected them to death! And I know that they only did it because they loved and cared for me. And now as a parent, I only spank my children in EXTREME safety issues.... they've got to be trying to start the house on fire, which I have spanked for. But if CPS and the DA are going to expect us to live up to how THEY feel is right to raise children, they'd better clearly define those expectations! I know someone that was investigated by CPS because his grade school daughter made a comment at school that he helps her in the shower with her hair rinsing(not in the shower together, and only to make sure she gets all of the soap out). They were questioned quite unconfidentially, in front of other parents and teachers of the incident only to find out that this was ALL that was happening, HAIR WASHING... nothing more, nothing less! Another instance of valuable CPS manpower wasted.

I loved it when I was unable to write my own child out of phy ed in grade school when she had fragile stitches in her eyebrow from previously jumping off of the coffee table one night, because the school stated that the only one that could write her out of phy ed would be a physician. Are you kidding me!?! So would they pay for her to go back and get the stiches redone if another kid accidentally knocked into her? Or should I sue that kids' parents? Since when do the drs have more control than we do as parents over OUR kids? Another example!

Since apparently we are not able to raise our own children as we deem appropriate, can we also expect the state to pay for them to go to college for us? Or how about demand that they more strictly enforce that they receive the child support that is owed to them... All issues that support that we as parents are NOT the ones in control here!

I agree with Outspoken, I spanked my grown kids when they were little and by the time they were teens I did not need to spank. They showed me more respect and communication than many of their peers who came from homes that did not spank. If you wait until they are teens to start disciplining...well, it just won't work. But I agree that spanking should not be a first resort ever...other choices should be given to the child to allow them to make the right decision. Spanking should always be accompanied with fair warning and the options given for correct behavior routes.

I was in foster care from the age of 10 til I was 16, the first home I was in I have to say was BAD, I was taken from my mother to be put in a home that would put an 8 year old child outside in the middle of winter with coat or shoes for hours, they had 3 kids including the one who was outside most of the time sitting not able to do anything, this was what they used to "make the kids behave" that was and still is not right and very wrong! the next home I went too, wow that was not as bad but was still not great, at this time in this home I was 13, the foster mother hit me one time and I knew it was not to happen and I said that to her, but I hit her back, in no way I am going to say I had a right too, still though one of these foster homes still has foster kids in it, and to this day it bothers the hell out of me, cause how many kids need to be taken from a home that CPS says is bad for them only to be put in one that is worse????

I don't see CPS really working to help the child they say they are helping, lets not forget the little boy who died while in his fathers care, he could not talk to say what was going on, and many people said not to let him have the boy, yet CPS let him and now he is gone forever, and the people who suffered the most was his foster mother and her family.....

I really think that CPS needs to screen the foster homes better, and the parents of the child in foster care! They need to make a drop in visit on the foster homes, with out calling before they come, then and only then can they see what really goes on there!!!!!

ya well good luck with the invest when I was in foster care they feed me buttered noodles and had me babysitte there kid while they went 2 bingo and I said something 2 ss and they did nothing

I believe the issue is with the fact he used a spoon to spank the child with. An object used to discipline a child will leave a mark that the bare hand probably wouldn't. Bad judgement on his part for using a spoon? Yes. Bad judgement for disciplining his child? Definitely not...in my opinion.

There is nothing wrong with spanking under certain circumstances and in moderation. Obviously, crossing the "line" cannot be tolerated. The problem sometimes is defining the line.
Some people will never agree with spanking but that's their opinion. Some cite studies against it, others cite studies supporting it.
You'll never get everyone to agree.
.
As far as Dane County investigating, I'd say it's because of a possible conflict of interest since Rock County licenses foster care providers. That's quite common.

spanking? i was spanked as a child when i didnt obey my parents.
Was I trouble making teen? NO way!
Maybe if all the hoodlums out there got spanked as a disobeying child....we wouldnt have teens shooting up schoools!

Any parent who demands respect from children by using violence and intimidation will never find nor retain it. Why is this case "being investigated for Rock County by Dane County Human Services workers"?

If you dicipline a child in the younger years (including a spanking) you wont need to spank in their teen years. If a teen needs a spanking, then they should get one. Thats the problem with some teens today, no respect, because it wasnt instilled in them in the early years. Parents ARE in charge, and statutes allow for that.

you know i was thinking, my friends son was sent to ehan allen correctional facility when he was 12. it was very difficult for him and he rebelled alot. he spent months in a cement cell, sleeping on a cement floor,eating off a napkin,and no silverware. they treated him like a common animal.one blanket no pillow, on occaision, he was in his cell with no clothes for hours along with other boys.( of course in separate cells)one boys arm was broke when he stuck it out of the slot and refused to put it back, another boy was gassed about a week after open heart surgery,maybe cps should visit the state of wisconsin, if as a parent you done any of the above i believe some of those actions would warrant prison time.this boy has numerous mental health problems. so before the district attorney files charges against anyone he better take an in depth look at how the county and state treats children, and maybe file some charges against them.this boys life is ruined.

Seems the CPS "system" is being harder on this foster parent than they would be on a parent who was referred to them. For to say it's not the best place for their foster children to be; as if a physically abusive enivornment is ok if you are the biological child? If you leave a mark, then yes, it is no longer discipline but rather abuse. Many would be surprised at the "punishment" those who leave deep tissue bruises (6, 7, 8 inch marks in MULTIPLE places) get....and it never makes the newspaper.

the spanking of a teenager, hmm, this isnt 1940 when pa takes jr. out the wood shed, and you are right, how many teenagers do you know you can put in timeout, thats almost funny. in this day in age there are not may options left. but violence is not the answer. there is a big difference between discipline and abuse. but i see you cant do either in this county. our society has made our children what they are today. every time you turn around, its im calling the cops or im telling my councelor. my daughter, when she was younger, actually said it was child abuse when i took her phone and tv from her and made her stay in her room. she was going to call the cops on me for that. as far as foster children being placed in this home, i dont believe is a real good idea. and how old is this child that was spanked? and how would he like to be hit with a wooden spoon? it hurts.there are other options, but maybe this parent thought he ran out of them.

A comment for viperstyle: spanking doesn't work on teenagers, either. It just teaches that violence/force is the way to make your point. And what will happen when your teen grows stronger/bigger than you?? Loss of privileges for a reasonable time, or natural consequences where possible works the best. Any punishment that leaves bruises is abuse. Period.

Right on, SarahB.

Viperstyle: Are you saying a parent should spank a teen-ager? You are kidding, right?

spanking?..sometimes these kids need a spanking..but as soon as the little snots whine daddy spanked them...the parent is wrong.Today control has been taken away from parents.Although parents are being blamed for the wrongs the kids do.Timeouts DO NOT work on teenagers.

How ironic that, on the same day the public announcement of withdrawal of criminal charges against this "minister" - one of the first "churches" supporting the G.I.F.T.S. homeless shelter- there's a front page Gazette article written about child abuse noting: "THE SIGNS OF ABUSE Physical Bruises,..." Violence tolerated against children doesn't lead to improved discipline but only to perpetuating itself.

I agree, no more foster children for this guy. There are better ways to discipline a child. If you spank and leave bruises, then you have gone too far.