The Soco-Legal History of Child Abuse and Neglect: An Analysis of the Policy of Children\u27s Rights

The focus of this paper is on the two major axes that have influenced the course of child welfare policy. One upholds corporal punishment as the predominant method of child rearing, that is, Spare the rod, spoil the child. The other defines the status of the child as property of loving parents. Because of these two conceptions, the authors maintain that reliance on parental benevolence or the benevolent intrusion of the state will not suffice to protect the child\u27s best interests. On the contrary, the examination of the socio-legal history of child abuse and neglect highlights the authors\u27 warning that children will remain at the mercy of adult authorities unless advocates commit themselves to securing Constitutional safeguards of children\u27s rights. Critical is the child\u27s right to counsel that the authors view as a prerequisite in changing the legal and social power relationship between the child and the adult