The Spencer Discipline Plan

Additional Information

Written by Dorothy Spencer in 1936, the Spencer Plan is a highly structured, cooperative, domestic discipline agreement between husband and wife designed to promote and strengthen marital harmony and stability. Crafted with thought, humanity and balance, this contract may serve as an excellent starting point for those considering a similar arrangement -- married or otherwise. In her own words, "The plan was a wonderful success."

The following is the original text Foreword from her book, published in 1936. The first mention of the Spencer Plan being used was in a 1929 notation from Mrs. Spencer's diary, the use of which spread by word of mouth until sometime around 1935 when Dorothy Spencer began work on her manuscript. By this time there were already thousands of couples engaged in the practice.

Once her book was released the, initial printing run of 50,000 copies sold out in under six weeks. 14 subsequent reprints have been documented. The last printing of her book seems to have been in 1958. It is also interesting to note that there is a direct correlation between the explosive popularity of this book and a notable drop in the divorce rates during the same time period. Furthermore, please note that the practice of discipline in the home fell out of favor within society in the early 1960s, and the US divorce rate has been on the rise ever since.

This site is dedicated to helping people start with and maintain Spencer Plan Doctrine within their lives and homes. We also provide resource materials to help individuals and couples understand the core principals of the Spencer Plan, how to implement the Spencer Plan and a place to get personal answers to questions they may have about the Plan.

We also share information about the Spencer Scholarship program. Dorothy Spencer used the profits from the sale of her book to provide an endowment to start this program. Starting in September of 1940 and continuing today, the Spencer Scholarship program has helped more than 3,500 young people successfully complete their post-secondary education. Scholarships may be used for undergraduate, graduate or post-graduate study within an accredited degree program offered by any university recognized in North America. The scholarships provide for tuition, books, room & board and a weekly stipend to cover incidental expenses. For further information, please refer to the Spencer Scholarship program pages.

Foreword by Dorothy Spencer

Several years ago I conceived the idea of settling domestic misunderstandings in our home upon a somewhat unique basis--the giving and submitting to carefully regulated corporal punishment.

My idea was to inaugurate a system of cooperative discipline that would sincerely benefit the party at fault and prevent all serious trouble by furnishing a definite, fair and effective method of adjustment. The plan was a wonderful success.

Gratified by the happiness we attained through the operation of our somewhat novel concept, we told a few of our intimate friends of our plan and they, too, adopted the method, reporting to us the same happy results.

The news began to spread, and soon, to my great astonishment, I became besieged with letters from all parts of the country asking for particulars of the "Spencer Spanking Plan," as they termed it.

I shrank from the publicity that all this naturally entailed. It was one thing to tell intimate friends of our arrangement, and quite another to discuss it with strangers.

With reluctance, but feeling perhaps it was my duty, in view of the many earnest appeals for help and advice I received, I answered several of the communications and agreed to send them the information desired--asking a small fee as it took up considerable time and meant not a little work to forward my ideas on the subject to them.

Thus the Spencer Spanking Plan became a definite thing instead of a vague term. I found myself the originator of a System of Cooperative Discipline that bids fair to swoop the nation in a most enthusiastic way.

Of course, and quite naturally, my efforts were misunderstood by many people. I found myself in contact with not a few "cranks" and nit-wits. But on the whole, I secured a splendid reception for my ideas, and I have every reason to believe that my efforts have been productive of much good.

I have never claimed that the Spencer System was an infallible panacea for all the troubles of humanity nor am I of the opinion that it can or should be adopted by everyone.

I do believe, however, that the idea properly operated contains genuine merit, and that most anyone CAN derive sincere benefit from it if they adopt the right attitude and live up to the rules and regulations carefully.

I do not prescribe the Spencer Plan as a remedy for you to take. Only physicians are allowed to prescribe and I am not a physician. The law, however, entitles any one to market and sell their BELIEFS and OPINIONS.

The principles of modern corporal punishment, as defined by the Spencer Plan, have helped me--and many other people--and it is my positive BELIEF and OPINION that if you will follow the idea out carefully and properly that it will do the same for you.

Wishing you sincere success, I am,

Very sincerely yours,

DOROTHY SPENCER