For Better or For Worse by Lynn Johnston for September 22, 1979

Unless your a adult, in which case you hit who ever you think is wrong and won’t listen to you. Right, America ;)

Spare the rod and spoil the child.

First appearance of Lawrence?

When I was little, my dad did the same thing

in response to sparks, what you are saying is the only thing spanking taught you was might makes right. perhaps a better approach to discipline would have taught you to do right based only on your own free will, a lesson which would stay with you your whole life. in response to isengrim, that’s like saying you can’t have empathy for a starving child unless you have been starved. i don’t think that’s remotely true.

Discipline is good but I think John should have just a little more detail so as not to confuse the message.

Jeez, what bad parenting.

Now that’s just accurate. A little too accurate.

Spanking? Yes. Beating? No.

There’s a huge difference.

It may sound hypocritical, but there’s no better way to teach a small child about the pain they just inflicted on the other. And that’s how small people, like all animals, learn about dangerous things; there is no faster learning tool than a pain response. The crucial part is understanding the difference between discipline and cruelty.