USING THE CANE AT SCHOOL.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2131, 4 March 1908, Page 3

USING THE CANE AT SCHOOL.

(To the Editor.) Sir.—There aro one or two matters concerning tho Gisborne school which I should like to see ventilated in your paper. The first is with regard to the shortness of the lunch hour. At the present time my little girl is supposed to have an hour which is all too short to permit her to come home, and have a meal .and get back in comfort. AVI)on that hour is cut down tho time is much too short. The children are expected to be back by five minutes to one, and as they rarely get out sharp to time I should like to know how the little mites are going to do for lunch. Aly own little child has scarcely time to sit down and bolt her food before she wants to be up and hurry away, “for says she-, “I’ll get the cane if I am late.” That brings me to another point:—AVliy should my child ho in constant fear of the cane at school I don’t, suppose she is better or worse than other children, and would not complain if she were only caned when she is guilty of disobedience or some other form or naughtiness, but when I find she is caned because she lias her sums or her spelling wrong, I think it is time to look into it. I consider there is a long way too much cane and strap used at tlie Gisborne school and I should like to know if Ibis corporal punishment goes on with the approval of the school committee and the Board. Personally, I don’t believe in corporal punishment under any circumstances, and, if there was a, school where it was not allowed, that would he the one to which I would send m.v children. Failing that 1 intend to do what 1 can to prevent tlm cane being used on my children any more than can be helped, and should therefore take as a great favor if you would insert this letter and see if there are not others who look at this matter in the same way as 1 do. —I am etc. “NO CANE.”

[Consulted on the matter dealt with in the above letter Air F. J. Rowley, headmaster, said the dinner hour Imd been framed with a view to suiting the majority of the scholars. The hour all round would suit- some and not others, and much could be said for and against- the period. If children had not time to go home for lunch, they could take it with them. As to the administration of corporal punishment Mr Rowley declined to say anything, considering that the correct procedure was for the parents with complaints, to make them direct to himself, or to the school committee.]