Public Shaming - Yay or Nay?

I recently saw an episode of the T.D Jakes show on Public shaming (It is available on Youtube) and I must say it was a learning experience for me. The episode showcased two parents who had publicly shamed their children, recorded their punishment and uploaded it on the internet. One of the parents had made his daughter stand in front of a courthouse holding a large sign stating that she was a thief and a liar. The man put up a video of his daughter holding up that sign on facebook. The video went viral and had varying reactions. Some people felt it was an extreme form of punishment which could destroy the child's self-esteem while others felt it was an appropraite punishment for a child who had stolen people's things over and over again.

Whichever side of the fence you belong, watching the father speak would give insight to his thoughts as to why he put the video on facebook. The girl's father had spent some years in prison for theft, his first son was in prison serving time for theft and now his young teenage daughter was begining to tow the same path. He had tried to correct and discipline her in other forms but she kept going back. So for him, public shaming of his daughter was his last resort. He loved her too much to want her to end up in jail like he did. He loved her to much to let her suffer the stigma of an ex-convict when she finally gets caught, he loved her too much to let her ruin her life and the reasonable relationships around her. For him, he thought it best to show his daughter how deeply he loved her by shaming her publicly so she could change her ways.

On the flipside of the argument, what really happens to such a child's self-esteem? The father agreed that his actions were extreme but borne out of love. He admitted that he didnt consider her self-esteem at the moment he took the action but he doesn't regret it because he has seen how much different his daughter had become after his unconventional discipline style. 

As much as I do not support the man's style of discipline, I understand that parenting is a tough job as children do not come with manuals. I also understand that children are people with emotions, different and diverse just like adults. Discipline style that may work for child A might be a waste of time for child B. Therefore, it is important to know your child, love and correct your child appropriately. Above all, let it always be clear to your children that you love them.