Southern Methodist University (SMU) in Dallas has uploaded a video from FOX News in which “SMU Psychology Professor George Holden, who specializes in child-parent relationships and positive child rearing, talks critically about Michael and Debi Pearl’s book “To Train Up A Child,” which advocates spanking.” More information about Professor Holden here.
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RedditCNN Story on Christian Talk Radio
February 29, 2012 1 Comment
Jeri, the Owner of Gentle Christian Mothers, just sent me an interesting link. This is a Talk Radio Show about the CNN coverage of the Schatz Story from Aug 18, 2011. The half hour show is called, Issues Etc. and the host is Told Wilken. After playing the audio of the CNN show, he accepts calls and emails from his listeners to discuss the question, “Is Spanking Required in the Bible?”. His conclusion seems to be that it is not mandated but neither it is prohibited. The key to him is discipline.
And in the latest news about the Pearls, they just released a new book. I see that Amazon is not at all concerned about the Petition.
Investigative Reports on Michael Pearl
February 22, 2012 5 Comments
Lauren Hensley, Investigative Reporter for CBS TV Station WVNS West Virginia, brings us Spare the Rod Part 1: Spanking in the Name of the Lord in which she interviews Mr. Pearl. In Spare the Rod Part 2: Local Pastors Challenge Biblical Backing she interviews local religious leaders about his teachings. Stay tuned for Part 3: The Effects of Corporal Punishment On A Child (tomorrow?).
Jill Monier, of FOX TV in Memphis Tennessee, brings us Spare the Rod, Spoil the Child? which is an in depth look at their book, To Train Up A Child. It includes some pretty disturbing quotes. As well as interviewing the Pearls, they interviewed Barbara King, the executive director of the Exchange Club in Memphis which offers a variety of programs to help Memphis area families breaking the cycle of abuse, and Elizabeth Stewart an adult niece who was also switched by the Pearls.
Tom Haynes, of My Fox Atlanta, brings us almost the same story in Investigators Link Book to Deaths of 3 Children.
Also, yesterday, Michael Pearl was on Dr. Drew’s show. Here is an Inside Look at that episode. Note that at the very end, Dr. Drew claims that he is still tender in the spot where Mr. Pearl spanked him.
Elizabeth Esther Explains the Popularity of TTUAC
December 7, 2011 Leave a Comment
Elizabeth Esther explains How “To Train Up A Child” Got So Popular in a video.
Meanwhile, Dulce de Leche considers Defiance and the Thought Police in a very important post. Are you punishing your children for obeying but with a defiant attitude? Are you expecting them to obey right away with a convincing smile? If so, you are ordering them to pretend to feel something they don’t. You are ordering them to lie and be hypocrites. God does not have a problem with emotional outbursts, but He hates lying and hypocrisy. Dulce also warns,
The child is left with two options: lie convincingly or never question anything internally, not even to understand it better . . . Over years of practice, both options are exceedingly dangerous. You wind up with a compulsive people pleaser who will lie convincingly without qualm or someone who believes everything and never thinks for himself.
Michael Pearl and Anderson Cooper
November 23, 2011 2 Comments
Michael will appear with Anderson Cooper on Friday Dec 2, 2011. I assume that this will be the long awaited episode of which Elizabeth Esther spoke.
Meanwhile, Alexandra Ossola has made a petition asking the American Family Association to denounce the book To Train Up a Child as it advocates legitimized abuse.
The Pearls Remain In The News
November 9, 2011 6 Comments
Lisa Belkin of The Huffington Post asks, Can Adoption Lead to Child Abuse?
Elizabeth Esther explains why we should hold the Pearls accountable for their teachings in Are the Pearls to blame for child spanking deaths?
Clay Duda of the Juvenile Justice Information Exchange takes a look at the history of corporeal punishment in Spanking at Home and in the Classroom, What’s Right and Wrong?
The story has gone international as this post in the Belfast Telegraph demonstrates.
In fact, the story is so big that even Psychology Today is writing about it.
Oh, and by the way, the NY Times Article and its spawns showed us the happy congregation and their happy children. Read Dulce De Leche’s explanation of why they look so happy.
New York Times on The Pearls
November 7, 2011 1 Comment
Erik Eckholm of The New York Times has written a well researched and carefully balanced article about the Pearls called Preaching Virtue of Spanking, Even as Deaths Fuel Debate. Unfortunately, in his effort to be balanced, he really didn’t warn against the Pearls’ teachings at all. The comments are many and one of them links to my site, for which I am grateful.
A Closer Look at The Biblical Rod
October 15, 2011 1 Comment
Dara Stoltzfus has a Post on The Mule where she describes why she gave up spanking.
Here are some very interesting posts from her blog, I Was Just Thinking:
Drawing the line between “spanking” and “abuse”
The Strength of Your Child’s Will!
“The Rod” as an instrument of protection
Easy Self-Test about “the use of the Biblical rod”
Na’ar in Proverbs…what kind of child are parents to strike?
On the other hand, just read all her posts about spanking. 
More Thoughts About Hana Williams
October 12, 2011 1 Comment
C.L. Dyck of Scita Scienda shares her thoughts in Hana Grace Williams and the Myth of My Happiness.
Kathy Cassel of Cassel Crew explains her concerns with To Train Up A Child in (How Not) To Train Up a Child. Note that she does believe in spanking but more as a last resort than as a first and/or only tool.
The Mule explains more about the Petition to Amazon and Why You Should Sign It. This is the same petition you see on my sidebar.
Professor Curtis Hutt of the University of Nebraska shares his view concerning the ongoing debate about violence against children on Samuel Martin’s Blog.
The Pearls’ Book NOT Banned in New Zealand (Working on Amazon)
September 22, 2011 3 Comments
New Zealand’s Censorship Compliance Unit has decided not to ban nor restrict Michael and Debi Pearl’s book, To Train Up A Child, according to this article in the Marlborough Press. While I don’t believe in book banning, it seems to me that if a country has that policy, this book should fall into that category and I am a bit confused as to how they reached their decision.
I do believe in encouraging book sellers to stop selling offensive books and so does Milli Hill at Peaceful Parenting who explains why Amazon should stop selling books which promote Child Abuse, especially To Train Up A Child. This piece includes a long quote from Debi Pearl in which she explains how one should use the switch on a child under one year old.
Note: The petition to which she links is the same one to which I link in my side bar. If you have not signed it, please sign it and share the link. Thank you.
Get Involved
March 10, 2010 Leave a Comment
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