I agree that Smacking is not Hitting
EG a 20mnth old toddler is stumbling around and keep's going toward's the the fire. The more you stress that it is wrong, the bigger the grin on the child's face and get's dangerously close to the fire.
The child is pushing the boudaries which is part of growing up
but this is one time when a reasoned discussion with a 20mnth old toddler about the pain of a burn will not help. A small smack on the hand and a stern face may be needed to teach the child that this is one boundary that can not be pushed .
That is Disepline(spell checker roy) not hitting !!!!
I agree hitting children is a total waste of effort it does not work.
But until they can be reasoned with logically some smacking may be needed.
In my 8 yr old's class yesterday a young boy in his class would not do as his teacher told him, he was being very naughty said my son. The response from the boy to the teacher was "You can not make me it is a free world". SAD very SAD.