THE campaign by bleeding-heart liberals for the slapping of children to be outlawed, so youngsters have the same legal protection against assault as adults, has much going for it in strict logic.

But reality knows differently.

For what would be the usphot if parents were banned from reasonably chastising their children - by which I mean delivering a salutory slap - when it's deserved?

We need look no further than our schools where corporal punishment is banned to observe the baleful effects.

The anarchy ensuing from the outlawing of the cane and strap is plain to see in the explosion in the number of pupils that frustrated teachers are nowadays forced to expel.

Families, of course, can't expel their own unruly kids, but they can hardly expect to dwell in safe or happy homes if the state gives in to the campaign for badly-behaving brats to have statutory immunity from a well-merited cuff around the earhole.

Just as in education the government is dumping trendy ideas and returning to basics by demanding the return of times tables in primary schools. So, too, should it see the sense of the old adage about sparing the rod and spoiling the child.

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