robmic
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Posts: 14
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Post by robmic on May 8, 2009 11:32:55 GMT -5
I haven't seen all the episodes, but I seem to remember spanking being alluded to on occasion. I'm asking because this is the era, the '30s and '40s, that my grandmother grew up in, and she said her parents believed in spanking big-time. She was spanked with everything from the hand to the switch to a piece of baling wire. It never was abuse, and to hear her talk about her parents you'd think they were saints. My grandmother grew up in a family much like the Waltons. Her parents were very strict, however. She and her siblings knew to toe the line or else, but it was a healthy fear.
I was wondering what your thoughts were on John and Olivia's parenting and their disciplinary measures. I'm trying to compare them to my grandmother's parents and what I've heard her say about them. There seem to be a lot of similarities. Do you think John or Olivia would have spanked the kids with an implement such as a switch or simply have used their hand. My grandmother has said that in today's world her parents would have probably been reported for child abuse, which she says is absurd. What type of spankings do you suspect John and/or Olivia gave?
I remember an episode early on where it looked like John was about to come after Mary Ellen for sassing him, but Olivia tells him to calm down. I would say Mary Ellen got the most spankings growing up.
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Post by dfnmeows44 on May 8, 2009 13:59:10 GMT -5
Dear Robmic, Welcome to the Forum! I am glad you are saying that Mary Ellen was the sassiest. I am sure that Grandma gave her a country licking for standing up for the genius the way she did--If we had been born in India we'd all be Hindus---not necessarily---the Portuguese settled the province of Goa and brought Christianity to the Malabar coast---and remember St Thomas the Apostle whom we speak of as'the doubting Thomas' was martyred in India---but that is just one case of Mary Ellen's disobedience---the time she wore shorts when she went out with the Minstrel---no nice girl would dress that way in those days! I am sure Grandma, John, and Olivia gave her numerous spankings---and the boys were not immune in any way---there never was any beating but it was a harder hit than one gives to someone they are chasing to announce their capture in a tag game--just prior to the GOT YOU! But the spankings were never whippings or any form of abuse---to equate child abuse with punishment for a wrongdoing is sparing the rod to spoil the child. Perhaps they used a switch or a stap to the boys but they never hit hard---also they probably put soap in their mouths---AKA Ralphie Parker!!!!
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Post by bmcgill on May 8, 2009 21:02:01 GMT -5
Hi there robmic, nice to meet you. Of course you know the show was based on Earl Hamner's growing up and was just a show and not all true story. The question you ask I think the answer would probably be yes back in that day and time. I remember the episode where Mary Ellen was caught with the young man smoking in the barn and wearing short shorts and when she got caught by her mother she was told to remmember bible verses and put on something decent. I also remember Jim-Bob after doing something wrong asking his father if he was going to get a spanking and the answer was I'll let you off this time so if it were reallity they probably were spanking parents but they never did show that happen on any of the episodes I assume because it probably was a regulation that they had to go by and not show that kind of thing on TV probably I figure it was because they were afraid that someone would see it as child abuse and make a big deal out of it.
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Post by Brennan on May 10, 2009 10:41:12 GMT -5
I personally am glad that spanking was not part of the show. It was alluded to on occasion but I think it was assumed that appropriate disciplinary actions were taken by John and Olivia. Usually when someone needed discipline it was delt with on a higher level....in a way the Walton children had to learn for themselves about disrespect or self-responsibility. Resorting to spanking in the plot would not have been as interesting. There were several spanking scenes in Little House on the Prairie during that series and it seems rather over the top...although sometimes Nellie did deserve it.
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Post by wetherwacky on May 10, 2009 13:42:17 GMT -5
I believe corporal punishment should have been included at least once or twice in the show. To me it seemed rather weak of Mr. and Mrs. Walton to always threaten of 'taking the switch' to the kids w/o actually following through. When you say something, you should mean it.
Although I believe in the phrase 'if you spare the rod, you spoil the child,' I think it's a wonderful gift in a parent to discipline children without having to resort to the paddle.
First lady Michelle Obama once told this story about her childhood...
Michelle had done something wrong and she deserved punishment, so her mother sent her to her father. She came back sobbing uncontrollably. Shocked, her mom inquired, "What did he do to you!?" Weeping miserably, Michelle moaned, "He said he's disappointed in me!"
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bren
Typesetter
Posts: 32
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Post by bren on May 11, 2009 13:34:29 GMT -5
I think the character of Ben was the closest to ever getting hit on screen when Ben borrowed John Boy's car and it got stolen and was involved in a hit and run while with the crooks who swiped the car. The character of John came very close to hitting but just roughed Ben up with his rough grabbing and shaking of Ben. Can't remember the name of the episode at the moment. Ben took a girl into town to meet her mother who had run off when the girl was young.
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Post by Tonyray on May 12, 2009 8:43:28 GMT -5
It was THE LIE.
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Post by Marilyn on May 22, 2009 16:27:34 GMT -5
Absolutely they were spanking parents. It's not a bad thing if done at the right time and with the right severity. We have six kids....all grown and gone...we spanked. Our kids have kids...they spank. All of our kids are college grads and professionals. Spanking probably had alot to do with keeping them on the straight and narrow when they were developing their personality traits. They're all good kids....not a one of them got in trouble. The Bible says Spare the rod, spoil the child...how true that is. As long as it's done the correct way, it can be a beneficial thing.
The Walton's set a terrific example on how families should live together. I'm sure they had a great influence on many parents. I read where Ralph Waite said that before he started filming the Waltons, he had a drinking problem and didn't interact with his girls. After he filmed the show for awhile, all that changed, and his daughters said they were thankful for the change.
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Post by dfnmeows44 on May 23, 2009 15:04:27 GMT -5
And if you have your DVDs for Season 8 be sure to watch The Prodigals----Verdie says she will take Josh out for a licking-----
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Post by lillyshak on Jun 20, 2011 12:07:56 GMT -5
Yes, I'd say they were. In the episode where Jim-Bob ran away, he asks his father if he's in for a spanking, and John replies "You would be, but since what you said about us not listening is true, so no spanking this time." In 'The Calf' (episode 3, series 1), Elizabeth and Jim-Bob and told to expect a spanking for trying to steal the calf, but they are let off. During an episode in Series 2, Olivia threatens Ben with a 'dose of the switch'. That's why I think they were spanking parents, but I think they saved it for a last resource.
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Post by jimblue on Jun 20, 2011 13:15:03 GMT -5
Welcome Robmic. I can remember being spanked once by my dad and once by my mom. I must have done something really TERRIBLE for either of them to do that. But I have not killed anyone nor robbed a bank! ;D
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Post by Marilyn on Jun 20, 2011 18:56:20 GMT -5
I thought it was funny when our two girls both said they would never spank their children. Then one day on the phone I heard Kelly, #1 daughter, threaten her boy Caleb with a spanking. I asked, "You spank?" She said, "You bet I do!" ;D ;D ;D She had initially thought that you could raise kids and just control them with words, but that's not the way it is 99% of the time. Spankings at the right time and with alot of love, will benefit your child more than standing there and just debating or arguing with them. Another very important thing is that we need to not let our children see us show anger while we spank and discipline. No matter how ticked off we are, stay calm and just do the deed.
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Post by clb458 on Jun 20, 2011 19:52:49 GMT -5
I grew up in the 60's and 70's and was spanked with everything from my mom's hand, to a flyswatter, her slipper and a switch. I probably needed every lick I got too! My husband and I raised our girls based on "Spare the rod and spoil the child" They are all fine young women who also spank their kids when it is needed. Unfortunately these days, way too many parents don't spank and our society reflects that. It is so sad.
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calico
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Posts: 7
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Post by calico on Jun 20, 2011 21:53:45 GMT -5
I was never spanked, so I find this discussion very disturbing. My father always told me what his father told him: hitting a child only teaches someone to fear instead of respect you.
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Post by Marilyn on Jun 20, 2011 22:34:18 GMT -5
Calico, you must not have kids.... Don't get disturbed over the facts of life.
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