CORPORAL PUNISHMENT.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1503, 27 July 1912, Page 4

CORPORAL PUNISHMENT.

A CHANGE IN THE SYSTEM. (By TclCErapli.-Press Aesociatlon.) , . , Christchurch, July 26. An. important cliaiiso in tho system of corp&rnl punishment has bwn approved by tho North Canterbury Education Board. Hitherto tho \ise of the strap has been restricted to tho headmaster and Hie mistresses, with tho provision Hμt in schools baring an average attendance of 400 the headmasters can recommend, with the committees' approval, that tho •assistants should have tho necessary authority. It was represented to fclic board that those regulations resulted in most of the responsibility for corporal punishment Icing thrown upon tho head teacher. The board bus recognised that, and made alterations, under which, without any regard to tho size of the school, tho headteacher may recommen:l a trustworthy assistant to tho board for the purpose of authorising him to inflict corporal puni.sliment. The existing precaution still holds good that tho approval of tho committeo must be secured before the application (,' ocs !>efore tho board. As there has latterly been some discussion on tho subject, the secretory of the board pointed out in an interview with « reporter that one regulation provided that, "Tlieboard expects teachers to exercise discretion in the matter of corporal punishment. Tho uso of an unnecessarily heavy strap wiil lie a breach ot the regulation, which requires teachers lo inflict corporal punishment with great caro and moderation, and in the event of any undue severity tho fact of the board's allowing a heavy elrap to bo used when needed will not save a teacher from tho consequences."