By many measures, girls are on a roll. In terms of academic achievement, college attendance and completion, and the opportunities that are open to them, girls are poised for success. But some experts see worrying signs that girls are also facing new pressures—and responding with violent behavior usually associated with boys. Andrea Grazzini Walstrom takes a look at the issue.

According to this poll, the public approves of spanking children in principle by a 2-1 margin, and half of parents say they sometimes spank their own kids. Southerners and parents with less education are more likely to approve of spanking at home and at school than others.

This organization seeks to end corporal punishment of children by all persons, including parents, through education and legal reform by advocating child-rearing practices that develop caring, responsible and self-disciplined adults.

Initiated in 1998, SpankOut Day USA brings attention to the need to end corporal punishment of children. The End Physical Punishment of Children organization asks parents, teachers, caregivers and other adults who still use corporal punishment to refrain from hitting children on April 30 and look for non-violent ways to teach children good behavior.

ACR is a professional organization dedicated to enhancing the practice and public understanding of conflict resolution.

Spanking is the least effective way to discipline, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).

The philosophy that parents are their children's first and most important teachers is the basis for Parents as Teachers, a voluntary early childhood parent education program. Children who have been in the program are advanced over their peers at age 3 and these gains carry over into their elementary school years. Find out more about this program that is meeting the needs of communities throughout the country.

Learn how to teach your infant and toddler discipline without resorting to physical punishment. Spanking or otherwise physically punishing your child will not teach him better behavior but may teach him to solve problems with violence, according to the Center for Effective Discipline.

Discipline for young children should teach coping skills and discourage inappropriate behavior. Find out why the National Association for the Education of Young Children says that "time-out" is a last resort technique for disciplining young children.

The vast majority of young people do not commit crimes. Still, youth violence does occur with disturbing frequency, and the causes are many. The Office of Juvenile Justice and Deliquency Prevention provides national leadership, coordination, and resources to prevent and respond to juvenile delinquency and victimization.