"How Effective Is Spanking? Expert Debunks the Myths Behind France’s Persistent Parenting Debate"

The professional landscape of early childhood education in France is currently defined by a widening gap between traditional parental beliefs and the strict regulatory frameworks governing childcare providers. This tension centers on the use of corporal punishment, specifically spanking, which remains a point of contention despite legal prohibitions aimed at professionalizing the sector.

The regulatory environment for French childcare businesses, including crèches and preschools, shifted significantly with the passage of Law n° 2019-721. This legislation prohibited the use of violent punishments against children, effectively outlawing what are known in France as violences éducatives ordinaires (VEO), or ordinary educational violence.

Professional Standards vs. Public Perception

While the law establishes a clear mandate for professional educators and childcare providers, a segment of the French public continues to view corporal punishment as an effective tool for discipline. This discrepancy creates a complex operational environment for licensed childcare institutions that must adhere to state-mandated non-violence protocols while managing the expectations of parents who may still favor traditional disciplinary methods.

Psychiatrist and psychoanalyst Serge Hefez has addressed this divide, arguing that the perceived efficacy of spanking is a misconception. According to Hefez, such methods do not achieve the intended educational goal of teaching a child right from wrong.

The child does not learn why the act was wrong, but rather learns to fear the person who is punishing them.

Serge Hefez, Psychiatrist and Psychoanalyst

Hefez posits that this dynamic undermines the educational process by replacing moral understanding with fear, which he suggests is counterproductive to the long-term psychological development of the child.

Impact on the Childcare Industry

For the business of early childhood education, the transition toward positive education is not merely a pedagogical choice but a legal necessity. The implementation of Law n° 2019-721 has forced childcare providers to integrate new training modules for their staff to ensure compliance and avoid legal liability.

The operational implications for these institutions include:

• Mandatory staff training in non-violent communication and positive reinforcement techniques.
• Updating internal codes of conduct to explicitly forbid any form of corporal punishment.
• Developing communication strategies to align parental expectations with the legal and professional standards of the institution.
• Increased oversight from regulatory bodies to ensure that the ban on VEO is strictly enforced within professional settings.

Failure to comply with these standards exposes childcare businesses to significant legal risks, including the potential loss of operating licenses and criminal charges under the 2019 legislation.

The Shift Toward Positive Education

The movement away from corporal punishment has fostered a growing market for positive education frameworks. These methodologies emphasize empathy, clear boundaries, and the psychological needs of the child over punitive measures.

As professional standards evolve, the French state and educational authorities continue to promote these alternatives to ensure that childcare providers can maintain a safe, legally compliant environment. The goal is to standardize a professional approach to discipline that is consistent across all licensed childcare facilities, regardless of the personal beliefs of the parents or the staff.

The ongoing discourse involving experts like Serge Hefez serves to provide the psychological grounding for these regulatory shifts, framing the ban on spanking as a necessary step in the modernization of the French education system.