...an analysis of the statement would lead any intelligent person to the conclusion that the reason that these children went "wrong" is because they were "smacked".

Noone with a glimmering of an understanding of logic would draw that conclusion from that statement.

"Most people who drink and drive have tea or coffee for breakfast." That is unquestionably true. However if somebody drew the conclusion from that that drinking tea or coffee for breakfast was the cause of drunk driving, they would not be properly categorised as "any intelligent person".