To Train Up a Child

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To Train Up a Child
Book cover of To Train Up a Child[a]

To Train Up a Child is a 1994 book written by Michael and Debi Pearl, published through their non-profit organization No Greater Joy ministries. The book has attracted controversy for advocating child abuse and its teachings being linked to the deaths of three children.

Michael and Debi Pearl[]

Michael Pearl (born 1945)[3] is an American independent Baptist preacher and author. After graduating with a Bachelor of Science from Mid-South Bible College, he worked with Union Mission in Memphis, Tennessee for 25 years.[4] His 2006 graphic novel Good and Evil[5] won the Independent Publishers' IPPY Award Bronze Medal in the Graphic Novel/Drama category in 2009,[6] and was a 2009 ForeWord Book Award finalist.[7] His other publications include No Greater Joy magazine,[8] Training Children to be Strong in Spirit,[9] and Created to Be His Help Meet.[10]

Pearl married his wife Debi Pearl in 1971.[11] Together they wrote To Train Up a Child, which was published in 1994.[2] As of February 2012, the Pearls have five children and eighteen grandchildren.[4] Their daughter Shoshanna Easling has said she had a wonderful childhood and that her parents never spoke to her in anger.[3] Another daughter, Rebekah Pearl Anast, has said, "I think that the fact that all five of us are very happy, balanced people with great marriages and happy kids is evidence that my parents did the right thing."[12]

No Greater Joy ministries[]

No Greater Joy ministries is Michael Pearl's 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. The organization brings in between $1.5 and $1.7 million a year through product sales and donations[3][12] and has sold or donated over 1.5 million copies of Pearl's books, CDs, DVDs, and other materials.[12] The Pearls state that they do not receive royalties from the sales, and that the profits are used for ministry purposes.[13]

Controversy[]

The content of To Train Up a Child has been cited as advocating child abuse. The book advises parents to use objects like a 0.25 in (6.4 mm) diameter plastic tube to spank children and "break their will". It also mentions withholding food and putting children under a cold garden hose.[3][14] Its teachings have been linked to the deaths of Sean Paddock,[15] Lydia Schatz,[16] and Hana Grace-Rose Williams.[17] In all three cases, the parents read Pearl's book and were homeschooling their children.[18] Michael Ramsey, the district attorney who prosecuted the Schatz case, investigated the Pearls' teachings and called To Train Up a Child, "an extraordinarily dangerous book for those who take it literally" and "truly an evil book".[1] Dr. Frances Chalmers, the pediatrician who examined Williams' death, stated that "My fear is that this book, while perhaps well intended, could easily be misinterpreted and could lead to what I consider significant abuse."[3]

On his website, Pearl issued his official responses to the controversy over To Train Up a Child and the deaths of Hana Williams and Lydia Schatz. The responses list quotes from Pearl's book that warn against abuse.[19][20] In an article published after Schatz's death, Pearl explained, "I laugh at my caustic critics, for our properly-spanked and trained children grow to maturity in great peace and love."[21] Pearl has also spoken to the media about the controversy, stating that the plastic tubing he recommends in the book is "too light to cause damage to the muscle or the bone."[3][22] Pearl stated of the death of Hana Williams, "What her parents (allegedly) did is diametrically opposed to the philosophy of No Greater Joy Ministries and what is taught in the book."[14] Pearl has stated, "The book repeatedly warns parents against abuse and emphasizes the parents' responsibility to love and properly care for their children, which includes training them for success."[14]

The Seattle Times noted that there is no mention in To Train Up a Child of the discipline used on Hana Williams except for spanking, although "spanking is clearly the heart of the book."[1] The New York Times suggests that the Williams' other discipline tactics involve Pearl's book taken to extremes, such as Pearl's advice that "a little fasting is good training."[3] A witness in the trial reported that the Williamses followed the book's recommendations "to use a switch, cold baths, withhold food and force children outside in cold weather as punishment," all of which were used on Williams before her death.[17]

Notes[]

  1. ^ The cover repeats a 2011 claim by Michael Pearl that the book had sold more than 670,000 copies.[1] However, Nielsen BookScan recorded only 9,579 sales between 2001 and 2013. While it is possible the book sold best prior to the earliest sales records available, this figure is likely to be inflated by shifting books through mailing lists.[2]

References[]

Citations

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b c Hodson, Jeff (November 27, 2011). "Did Hana's parents "train" her to death?". The Seattle Times. Archived from the original on 29 February 2012. Retrieved 28 February 2012.
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b Merritt, Jonathan (April 22, 2013). "How influential are Michael and Debi Pearl? And how harmful?". Religion News Service. Retrieved 23 April 2013.
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g Eckholm, Erik (November 6, 2011). "Preaching Virtue of Spanking, Even as Deaths Fuel Debate". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved March 10, 2021.
  4. ^ Jump up to: a b "Meet the Pearls". No Greater Joy website. Retrieved 28 February 2012.
  5. ^ Pearl, Michael (2006). Good and Evil. No Greater Joy ministries. ISBN 1-892112-38-8.
  6. ^ "Announcing 2009 IPPY Awards National and Regional Results". Independent Publisher website. Retrieved 28 February 2012.
  7. ^ "Book of the Year Awards". ForeWord Publishing website. Retrieved 28 February 2012.
  8. ^ "Magazine". No Greater Joy website. Retrieved 28 February 2012.
  9. ^ Pearl, Michael (2011). Training Children to be Strong in Spirit. No Greater Joy ministries. ISBN 978-1-61644-037-4.
  10. ^ Pearl, Michael (2012). Created to Need a Help Meet. No Greater Joy ministries.
  11. ^ Pearl 1994, About the Author.
  12. ^ Jump up to: a b c Harris, Lynn (May 25, 2006). "Spare the quarter-inch plumbing line, spoil the child". Salon. Retrieved 28 February 2012.
  13. ^ "About Us". No Greater Joy website. Retrieved 28 February 2012.
  14. ^ Jump up to: a b c Burnett, Thane (October 8, 2011). "Was child abused to death due to advice from book?". The Toronto Sun.
  15. ^ Is Conservative Christian Group, No Greater Joy Ministries, Pushing Parents to Beat Kids to Death?, CBS News, March 4, 2010.
  16. ^ DA: Kevin and Elizabeth Schatz Killed Daughter With "Religious Whips" for Mispronouncing Word , CBS News, February 22, 2010.
  17. ^ Jump up to: a b Stoll, Lee. "Kids testify in parents' murder and abuse trial". KIRO TV. Retrieved 7 August 2013.
  18. ^ Hodson, Jeff (September 29, 2011). "Murder charges for parents who left girl outside". The Seattle Times.
  19. ^ "Response to Schatz Case". No Greater Joy website. Retrieved 28 February 2012.
  20. ^ "Hana Williams Official Statement". No Greater Joy website. Retrieved 28 February 2012.
  21. ^ "Laughing". No Greater Joy website. Retrieved 8 August 2013.
  22. ^ Cooper, Anderson. "Anderson Cooper 360 Degrees, Aired October 26, 2011". CNN. Retrieved 8 August 2013.

Bibliography

  • Pearl, Michael and Debi (1994). To Train Up a Child. No Greater Joy ministries. ISBN 1-892112-00-0.

External links[]

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