[Chancellor]

Quote by: pahl Is it right for a parent to hit his/her child when the child has done something wrong?

In the early years when the child is really too young to understand other imposed consequences such as the ubiquitous "time out," spanking is likely the only effective method of instilling the understanding that certain behavior is not acceptable.

Is it a good method? Is it needed, or are there better ways of parenting wich does not include physical punishment?

See above. There's nothing wrong with spanking but the goal should be to teach the child why the behavior for which he is punished is wrong. I think spanking begins to lose its effectiveness when the child starts developing the ability to understand why his behavior is (at least according to the parents) wrong.

I belive that hitting a child is wrong and that there are better ways of raising the child. But obviosly [sic] not everyone share [sic] this view.

You try explaining to an eight month-old why he shouldn't stick his finger in the electrical outlet or why he shouldn't try to grab the cup of hot coffee on the coffee table. Children, by nature, are going to try to push the envelope to see what their limits are. Often, just telling the kid "No" isn't enough to establish the boundaries.