Sometimes people do things they know are wrong. Beating one’s child is pretty goddamn obviously wrong.
The irony of your post is that it would apply well to the child who indeed should be taught instead of physically abused (punished).
But why should society let abusers decide what the abused learn when the lessons being imparted are almost always self-serving.
We all make mistakes, we are all human, but sometimes the mistakes we make should have consequences that prevent future errors. Drive drunk? You shouldn’t have a license or a car. Shoot up a school? You shouldn’t have a gun, be near schools, or really even be in general society. Beat your child? You shouldn’t be around children
Easter 2, papal boogaloo