SPARING THE ROD.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 159, 14 October 1910, Page 3

SPARING THE ROD.

To the Editor. Sir,—Under the above heading you write a sub-leader in last Saturday morning's paper beginning with these words: "We have lately been treated to an exposition of the exceedingly difficult task a school-teacher has in performing the everyday duties of the profession." The word "exposition," I believe, means "exposure" or "explanation." Will you kindly inform me why your reporter did Tint publish the whole of the evidence given at the enquiry last week, and also whether the subject of that enquiry was the everyday duties of the teacher's profession Reference is then made in your paper to stupid school committeemen. I would like to know clearly what are the duties of school committees. The Education Act states that the powers and duties of school committees are, subject to the general supervision and control of the Education Board and to inspection by an inspector, the committee shall have the management of educational matters within the school district. I quite agree wuh you that the utility of anyi school depends on its internal discipline, though the best, results are not always obtained by the frequent use -f the rod or strap. I have been informed on most reliable authority that the teacher whose school ranks first in the Taranaki educational district has oniy had occasion to use the strap three time. and that was for telling untruths, under the circumstances quite a justifiable punishment. The -teacher who ranks fourth on the status of schools in this district docs not administer corporal punishment at all, thus showing that good results can be obtained without chastisement. I do not for one moment think that a child at school should never be punished, but I do think that the punishment should be in accordance with the offence. You then refer to the.rudeness that is too common, and that it is the result of the pitiful system of undiscipline fomented by the parents of many school children and bv interfering school committees. Surely, Sir, when complaints have been made extending ova- many months, not by one or two but by many, and at the householders' meeting, when there were twenty-nine householders present, and a resolution was passed that the new committee ask the head teacher not to use the strap so much and less severe and also adhere to the time-table, we can hardly be termed an interfering committee. In your account of the enquirv you would make it appear we were a' very hard lot of people to deal with, but our former teacher was with us I'O or 11 years, and there was never any friction whatever, and regretted giving up the school, her relationship with the committee, parents and children always be- | ing most friendly; I am pleased to inform you. Mr. Editor, that we are not a one-eyed committee, but some members of our committee are of the opinion that your reporter must only have one ear, as he did'not report all that took place! To give an example, one girl stated she had .remembered half the school children being strapped one day. That is not published. Then as to your footnote to the denial by five of the six committeemen present'™ reference to outbursts of personal animosity, the report, which \on say was quite disinterested, spoke 'fo; iltself. We think different. lam writing this at the request of members of the committee and parents. Kindly insert this and oblige.—l am ,ebc., J. R. HILL, Chairman Hillsborough School C'te. [A verbatim report of the proceedings would nll_ one dozen columns of this paper. We require some space for other matters, and a summary of the evidence was all that was requisite or necessary. Our reporter has no recollection of the "example" auoted by the correspondent referring to the caning of half the children on one day. The remarks on discipline were intended (as we were careful to mention) to apply generally, and not specifically, but if the "cap" fits our correspondent we cordially invite him to wear it. As for the merits of the case these can be considered when the commissioners' report comes before the Education Board.—Ed.]