In his latest column, Business Report Publisher Rolfe McCollister supports District Attorney Hillar Moore III for his decision not to prosecute Schaquana Spears, the Baton Rouge mother of six who was jailed for whipping three of her sons as punishment for breaking into a neighbor’s home.
“Depending on your age, you might have had a different experience than me with discipline in the home growing up—or even at school (the ‘board’ of education),” McCollister writes. “But how times have changed! Now the person administering the discipline is the one who gets punished.”
Spears, who ended up behind bars briefly, told WBRZ-TV, “My whole world is those kids. I love my kids.” Just as Spears received widespread support for trying to discipline her children, so too has Moore for his decision not to prosecute her, McCollister says.
“Children are a blessing from God, and parenting is a tough job for all of us. Protecting your children is essential, and no one condones child abuse,” he writes. “But are we going to punish this mom who was taught and believes that suffering a harsh whipping is better than a possible life behind bars—or a bullet? Let’s get real.”
Read the full column, in which McCollister also encourages readers to download 225 magazine’s new first-of-its-kind mobile app, 225 Requested, featuring same-day bookings at local restaurants, special daily offers—and allows you to pay your bill without waiting for the check.
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