CASTIGATION IN STATE SCHOOLS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5817, 20 November 1879, Page 2

CASTIGATION IN STATE SCHOOLS.

TO THE EDITOR OP THE NEW ZEALAND TIl/IS. Sir, —I was pleased the other week to see in the report of the case against Mr. Holmes, master of Te Aro school, that the presiding Magistrate took such a common sense view of the matter, and gave his decision accordingly ; and I sincerely trust that, should occasion require, other Magistrates in the colony will follow Ids sxample. Sir, “ Order is Heaven’s first law.” and if the Divine has need of it, much more have we human beings. Order is absolutely necessary in our public schools, end from my own knowledge it cannot be always obtained in the quiet way —the .stick is necessary ; and if, when the stick - is used, children are encouraged to resent, the. .punishment, where will it end ? It is my opinion, and I have no hesitation in stating it, that it will end in rampant larritinism, which will,spread and disturb all the peace-loving members of the community. The spirit of resentment is bad enough when exercised against unjust injury, but infinitely worse when made use of in a revengeful way against a just punishment; and Ido not think children should be allowed to cultivate that spirit. 1 have boys, and so fat would I be from encouraging disobedience and inattention in school that, should any of them come home and complain of having been punished, and I were to find that the punish* ment was deserved (as in the case at Te Aro), I assure you, sir, X would certainly repeat the medicine, and make it such a caution that they would not feel inclined to provoke another dose. I think it should be the law of the land that parents should not be allowed to degrade masters, and take the power of control out of their hands by summoning them to appear in law Courts for having chastised disobedient boys. The Education Department ; should have <f machinery ” of its own for the control of both teachers and children. What is the use of school committees or Boards but to investigate any case of this kind privately, and if it is then found that grievous bodily^.injury has been inflicted let the master be brought te justice—he would deserve it—but not till then. If a master has to appear in Court to defend himself against his pupils the effect.will be most injurious, for he will lose not only the respect of such pupils, but also of others who will be required as witnesses, and more or leas of all the children under his care. This, I consider, would tend more than anything to jeopardise oar • admirable education 0 scheme, which costs the - country so much. Masters have a great deal to contend with in the management of their schools, and I think-parents onght to assist and encourage them, and not be too ready .to complain when their children are corporally punished.. Boys often do considerable injury to one another, and they say nothing about it, but, let the schoolmaster chastise any of them for gross misconduct, they report the matter to their parents, who, in most cases, are instantly at war with the master. Corporal punishment is really, unfortunately, a necessary evA- Spare the rod and spoil the child,” is a very old proverb, and I need only refer to the doings of some of the Nelson College boys to eubstantiate it. In conclusion. X may say that J have known Mr. Holmes for many years, and am persuaded that he is incapable of ill-treating any child ; on the contrary, he is; too lenient. —I am, Ac., _ A Txszsj.