Beaver's Dad

[Taryn]

Hey! I'm Taryn. I had a q bout Leave it to beaver. I thought I read somewhere that Beaver's dad beat them up or something. I thought this was the 'perfect' family. I wasn't sure if that was true or made up. I even thought i heard Beaver's dad say he was gonna spank him. I'm not sure. Thanks for anyone who answers.

Taryn

[Mysty Eyes]

Oh no, Ward didn't beat his sons.

Ward often talked about how his father would abuse him (Ward) when he was a child. He also followed those comments with a firm conviction that he, Ward, would never do the same to Wally and Beaver.

Sure, he punished the boys, but not by beating them up. The punishments were usually things like them being grounded or having to do extra chores, etc.

As far as "abusive" punishment:
The most I ever recall Ward doing to the boys was to yell at them, or call them stupid, or the like. And Ward always felt bad about it later and apologized.

:talk:

[DarleneIllyria]

You know, that is the one thing I don't like about the show. Ward seemed like a sweet father. He didn't beat the tar out of Wally or the Beaver, yet in some of the episodes just to hear Wally or Beav talk it seems like he beat the crap out of them. I remember in one certain episode. I can't remember which one, but Wally is talking with Beav after Beaver got another talk from Ward for getting in trouble.

Wally: Beaver, you're crying. Did dad hit you or something?
Beaver: No, but I wish he had of.

That isn't the exact quote, but its pretty much highlights the quote.

But Mysty Eyes said the right answer. He would yell at Wally and the Beav, but the boys never got beat.

[UncleBilly]

You have to remember that "Leave it to Beaver" was created and filmed back in the late 50's and early 60's. All the talk about spankings, "beatings" or whatever, just mirrored the way of family life during that time period. If you talk to people who were raised during that time frame, you will hear them talk about either being spanked or at least the threat was there if they mis-behaved. It kept alot of kids in line just knowing what the punishment was. And I'm not talking about child abuse either, this was just an accepted form of punishment even in the "perfect" family. Nothing is wrong with a good old fashioned spanking as long as its not taken to the extreme where it then borders on child abuse. Wally and the Beaver did come from the "perfect family", and the threat of corporal punishment probably kept them out of serious trouble. Any trouble those two got into was minor compared to what kids today get into. Plus, Ward and June were also understanding parents, unlike Larry Mondello's parents. Poor Larry WAS a victim of child abuse in his family. The Mondello's were a dysfunctional family long before anyone coined that term. :-)

Doesn't it make anyone wonder about the correlation between the removal of corporal punishment in the family and the increase in disrespect and serious trouble that today's kids are involved in?

[pontoon]

<< Doesn't it make anyone wonder about the correlation between the removal of corporal punishment in the family and the increase in disrespect and serious trouble that today's kids are involved in? >>

It boggles my mind how much youngsters get away with these days! There ARE no set bedtimes anymore...no times to be in the house after dark...etc. It's as if there's been a 'role reversal' in the last coupla decades! So, who's the boss...and who's the worker?

I was paddled in junior high school for hi-jinx...and after that, I thought twice before acting stupid!

And I believe it's not so much the actual 'act' itself as a deterrent...but the anticipation of POSSIBLY being sent to the 'spanking machine' for wrong-doings!

NOW however...kids are so tuned into the 'abuse' thing, that if they're ever threatened with corporal punishment EVERYONE BUT THE PARENTS ARE ON THEIR SIDE!!! Thus, the kids are NOW the ones with the 'upper hand'!

It's disgusting! :(

pontoon :cool:

[DarleneIllyria]

Originally posted by pontoon
<< Doesn't it make anyone wonder about the correlation between the removal of corporal punishment in the family and the increase in disrespect and serious trouble that today's kids are involved in? >>

It boggles my mind how much youngsters get away with these days! There ARE no set bedtimes anymore...no times to be in the house after dark...etc. It's as if there's been a 'role reversal' in the last coupla decades! So, who's the boss...and who's the worker?

I was paddled in junior high school for hi-jinx...and after that, I thought twice before acting stupid!

And I believe it's not so much the actual 'act' itself as a deterrent...but the anticipation of POSSIBLY being sent to the 'spanking machine' for wrong-doings!

NOW however...kids are so tuned into the 'abuse' thing, that if they're ever threatened with corporal punishment EVERYONE BUT THE PARENTS ARE ON THEIR SIDE!!! Thus, the kids are NOW the ones with the 'upper hand'!

It's disgusting! :(

pontoon :cool:

Yeah, you really don't want to get me started on this topic. In the past, you didn't see all these teen shootings and such because of the fact parents still held the upper hand. Now you can't discipline a child, and now look at all that's happening. High school teens are pretty bad, some of them atleast. You couldn't pay me to be a high school teacher. No way. I've seen some with such a smartass attitude. It is truly disgusting.

[Taryn]

Thanks everyone for all the info. I didn't know some of it. Like, i didn't know that Ward's father "abused" him or whatever ya want to call it.

What episode was that quote from??? I never saw that one.

And I just have a comment about the last 3 or so messages. I'm only like 13 so I live in this day/age. I just was reading about how ya all said that every one is on this abuse thing. Well, if many people (there's more than ya think) give this the same idea that this is not like bad, but good old fashioned punishmnent. And like if someone is TRULY abused, like not spanked, beaten and they might read it. They might just think it is normal, but it isn't . I don't know if you understand what i mean.

Sorry if i'm just blabbering on. Talk to ya'll later.

Taryn

[Kristina]

They talked about it but they never really actually had anything like that on the show. Ward was such a great parent he would solve the problems with words, lol.

[B&W fan]

Ward (Hugh Beaumont) was a minister in real life, and it obviously carried over into his portrayal of the boy's dad on the show. He did a great job, and as others have already stated, the hittin or beatin's that were mentioned were nothing more than everyday discipline in the form of spanking. BTW, it isn't a bad corrective tool, in fact it works great when administered in love.

Look at today's youth and tell me that we are better off without this form of discipline. NO WAY!

B&W "don't get me started on this issue" fan

[Artfiore1]

Jenny,
Your reply reminded me of an episode of "Full House" in which the middle daughter, Stephanie, was agonizing over how her father was really gonna *let her have it* for something she had done. She was anticipating the lecture or punishment she would be receiving. It turned out to be quite an eye-opening experience for her, as, little did she know, she was talking to a child whose father regularly beat the hell out of him.



Just for the record, folks,
There have been quite a few kids, like myself, who *weren't* beaten, spanked or physically abused in any way while they were growing up, but still turned out okay. It IS possible to raise decent young people by just being a good parent and setting good examples.
Later,
Art

[bktFan]

Originally posted by Jenny
You know, that is the one thing I don't like about the show. Ward seemed like a sweet father. He didn't beat the tar out of Wally or the Beaver, yet in some of the episodes just to hear Wally or Beav talk it seems like he beat the crap out of them. I remember in one certain episode. I can't remember which one, but Wally is talking with Beav after Beaver got another talk from Ward for getting in trouble.

Wally: Beaver, you're crying. Did dad hit you or something?
Beaver: No, but I wish he had of.

That isn't the exact quote, but its pretty much highlights the quote.

But Mysty Eyes said the right answer. He would yell at Wally and the Beav, but the boys never got beat. I know what beaver meant by "I wish he had." I would rather get spanked than yelled at. Not beaten, but spanked. I think most kids would.

[Charlie Max]

Originally posted by Lucille Ball Forever
Ward was such a great parent he would solve the problems with words... [/B]

In my opinion, Ward Cleaver was the best t.v. dad of all time. Too bad that not all of us are fortunate enough to have a dad such as Mr. Cleaver. :)