"To Train
Up a Child" by Michael and Debi Pearl
This
book reads like a child abuse
manual.
Throughout the book, the Pearls recommend whipping *infants* and
young
children on their bare skin. They do this for "obedience
training,"
and compare it to training a dog or mule to obtain "instant,
unquestioning obedience." They say ALL children need to be whipped
with a "rod." They clearly dislike babies calling them "tyrants"
"terrorists" "whining,
spoiled brats" and "devious", with "criminal minds." According to the
Pearls' sick thinking, babies are determined to make parents' lives "as
miserable as
possible." Obviously the Pearls have not read the New Testament,
which contains Jesus' command to "take care that you do not despise one
of these little ones!" Mt. 18:10 In fact, the Pearls have no
religious credentials whatsoever!! And no child development
credentials either. Their first two children are often held up as
examples of how baby-whipping "works", but these young people were
not subjected to their evil training techniques.
"To Train Up a Child" is still being sold at Amazon.com.
Please take a moment to write
a one star review!! Go to this webpage and click on "Write a review" :
http://www.amazon.com/Train-Up-Child-Michael-Pearl/dp/1892112000/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/102-2415837-2654541?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1188220790&sr=8-1
Barnes and Noble no longer sells this book.
Here are some references:
1) The Pearls recommend whipping infants only a few months old on
their bare skin. They describe whipping their own 4 month old
daughter (p.9). They
recommend whipping the bare skin of "every child" (p.2)
for
"Christians and non-Christians" (p.5) and for "every
transgression"
(p.1). Parents who don't whip their babies into complete submission
are portrayed as indifferent, lazy, careless and neglectful (p.19) and
are "creating a Nazi" (p.45).
2) On p.60 they recommend whipping babies who cannot sleep and are
crying, and to never allow them "to get up." On p.61 they recommend
whipping a 12 month old girl for crying. On p.79 they recommend
whipping a 7 month old for screaming.
3) On p.65 co-author Debi Pearl whips the bare leg of a 15 month
old
she is babysitting, 10 separate times, for not playing with
something
she tells him to play with. On p.56 Debi Pearl hits a 2 year old so
hard "a karate chop like wheeze came from somewhere deep inside."
4) On p.44 they say not to let the child's crying while being hit
to
"cause you to lighten up on the intensity or duration of the
spanking."
On p.59 they recommend whipping a 3 year old until he is "totally
broken."
5) On p.55 the Pearls say a mother should hit her child if he cries
for her.
6) On p.46 the Pearls say that if a child does obey before being
whipped, whip them anyway. And "if you have to sit on him to
spank
him, then do not hesitate. And hold him there until he is
surrendered. Prove that you are bigger, tougher." "Defeat him
totally."
On p.80 they recommend giving a child having a tantrum "a swift
*forceful* spanking." On the same page they say to whip small
children on their bare skin until they stop screaming. "Don't be
bullied. Give him more of the same." They say to continue
whipping
until their crying turns into a "wounded, submissive whimper."
7) On p.47 they recommend their various whips, including "a belt or
larger tree branch" to hit children.
8) The Pearls recommend pulling a nursing infant's hair
(p.7), and describe tripping their
non-swimming toddler so she falls into deep water (p.67).
They recommend ignoring an infant's bumped head when he
falls to the floor, and ignoring skinned knees (p.86). They
also say
"if your child is roughed-up by peers, rejoice." (p.81)
And on p.103 the Pearls say if children lose their shoes,
"let them go without until they (the children) can make the money to
buy more."
9) The Pearls claim their "training" methods are Godly, yet they have *no
religious training or credentials* They never
mention Jesus' injunctions to forgive "seventy times seven" and be
merciful, and they decry
the "extraordinary ingnorance of modern psychology."
The Pearls' methods have resulted in parents being investigated by
Child Protective Services, children being taken away from parents, a
restraining order against a father, and even a babysitter going to
jail on felony charges!
Please write a review of this child abuse manual! Go to this webpage and click on "Write a review" :
http://www.amazon.com/Train-Up-Child-Michael-Pearl/dp/1892112000/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/102-2415837-2654541?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1188220790&sr=8-1
The whole book can be read
on-line at: Hokkai:
Train Up a Child
Your review will send a message to those parents who might be tempted
to try whipping
their babies into total submission! It's even illegal to treat pets
that way!!
Thank you everyone!!
Please also see the Pearl's other babywhipping book, No Greater Joy.
Stop The Rod
"It's a matter of taking the side of the weak against the strong,
something the best people have always done." - Harriet Beecher Stowe
IMPORTANT ADDENDUM
Michael and Debi Pearl have recently been investigated by the
Department of Human Services in Tennessee, and a detective with the
Tennessee government (the Pearls live in Pleasantville, TN). The
Pearls also claim their website has been interfered with. We at
Stop the Rod have not been involved in these efforts. There are
many people who are deeply concerned about the unGodly baby-whipping
and child abuse
the Pearls promote, and profit from.
