I think people who misquote the bible or any other moralistic document for their own cause are very misguided and manipulative.
I think using an act of violence, albeit a 'mild' act, as a form of discipline is wrong.
We have laws against ANY form of assault that all adults are held to.
Hitting the small and vulnerable kids is wrong imo.
Like some one mentioned: the military hold their members to the highest form of discipline and they don't beat their trainees every time they step out of line, they discipline them.
IMHO resorting to violence shows up a lack of parenting skills rather than proving you are a good parent.
Hitting = Violence no matter what name you plaster on the act itself.
And I am in no way talking of abuses suffered by poor innocent children.