The Feilding Star. Oroua & Kiwitea Counties Gazette Published Daily. THURSDAY, SEPT. 24, 1890. CORPORAL PUNISHMENT.

Feilding Star, Volume XVIII, Issue 74, 24 September 1896, Page 2

The Feilding Star. Oroua & Kiwitea Counties Gazette Published Daily. THURSDAY, SEPT. 24, 1890. CORPORAL PUNISHMENT.

In Otago the question of corporal punishment in schools has been occupying the attention of the educational authorities, and we are informed by the Dunediu Star that a full discussion of the subject went to show that the condition of affairs was by no meaus as satisfactory as could bo wished. The only existing regulation, owing to the impracticability of carrying it out, was simply ignored. This regulation authorised only head- teachers and acting bead-teacher 3of schools to inflict corporal punishment. A new set of regulations, which, we understand, have met with the approval of the Board's inspectors and the deputation of teachers, has been adopted. No 1 reads : " Corporal punishment may be inflicted "on pupils, but only by certificated " members of tbe school staff." With this regulation wo entirely agree, for it was manifestly absurd to prevent as-sistant-teachers, many of whom have been head-teachers, from inflicting corporal puuisbrnent of aDy description. The second regulation provides that the only instrument of corporal punishment shall be a leather strap, and that it shall bo applied only on the palms of the hands. This we deem a wise provision, for there is little doubt but that serious injury to the bones of a child's hand may be inflicted by the use of a rod or cane. Regulation No. 3 permits headteachers or their assistants at any time to inflict punishment of two or three strokes, but provides that punishment exceeding three strokes shall be inflicted •only by head-teachers, or by assistants after consultation with and in the presenoe «£ their head-teacher. This, at first sight may seem an undue interference with tfce rights of the teacher, but it must be recaepibpred that among the head-teachers of sq?aU schools, are «any «9»ip^tJYely yewg; jqa# »s*•

I pericnced teacbers, and for the sako of such teachers, as well as ior the sako of the children, we consider it wise to limit and to specify the punishment for minor offences. Every good teacher knows the wisdom of keeping control iv bis own hands. Regulation f> provides that a punishment register shall he kept, which book according to regulation fi must bo placed before aud signed by the lieadtcacher every week. Regulation 7 provides that :—" tiliould a school corumitnnbhec consider ifc accessary to inquire into a case of alleged excessive puuishrnent, the clerk shall furnish the headteacher with a written statement of complaint, and may demand from him a certified extract from the punishment register bearing on the individual case under inquiry. The hcad-tcachcr shall, without delay, furnish the clerk with such extract." The art of teaching, like every other art, is progressive. Fifty years ago " the discipline of work- j a shops, of schools, of private families. " though not more efficient than at pre " sent, was infinitely harsher. Nowhere " could be found that sensitive and rest- " less compassion which, in our timp. " pries into the stores and water caeks " of every emigrant ship, which winces " at every lash laid on the back of a " drunken soldier, and which will not "suffer the thief in the hulks to be ill- " fed or overworked. It is true that " compassion, like all other feelings, " ought to be under the government of " reason, and has, for want of such '■ government, produced ridiculous and "deplorable effects." Altogether we approve of the new regulations on corporal punishment, and we ieclsure that, it' properly carried out, they will in no way tend to weaken the discipline of our schools, and will certainly protrctteachers from the attacks of spiteful, unscrupulous, and irresponsible people.