Not that I believe you shouldspank your child all the time, but I do feel it is important that spankings occur when the chjild is out of control. This child sounds completely out of control and does not have the appropriate respect for rules and authority.

I grew up with a friend whose father would whip him with a belt for mild problems, like not bring the father a beer. That's child abuse. Giving the occasional slap on the bottom is simply teaching a child cause and effects in a manner a kid can understand. Touch a hot stoive you'll get burned... to me a quick slap on the bottom is a whole lot better than him pouring a boiling pot of water onto himself... same goes when they are schoolage. Reasoning with them doesn't do much.

My husband is a teacher and he can't say or do much to discipline his students. They are 7th and 8th grade and by then, because they were never properly disciplined for misbehavior in 1st grade and on, they know that they will get away with anything they do. He has students telling him to "go F$%* yourself" all the time. He can't even give a detention for it!