Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1858-03-31
For the ~Chroniele.I
Corporal Punishment in Schools.

AfsSTS NuH0Fs.-Ou sPtey corTespoh-
dence has caused another article on the
subject Of corporal punishmentin Com
mon Schools, from the pen OF Mr.. E. L.
Gibbs, of Orwell, and if you have space
and disposition to publish this it may
bring forth more on the same subject,
pro and con. l have heard old and in
teligent men and women who have come
down to US from the times spoken Of by
Mr.. Gibbs. say tdat they consider the
%insinuations in the articles already pub
lished as directly insulting to common
sense and cur better feelings.
This subject is one of grave import 10
US all, and it is well TO discuss it publicly
and thoroughly in order to get all the
light possible.
You might naturally infer from Mr..
Gibbs, article that argue that no school
a be taught without the rod. That
is not so. What is the position and
language in my former letter? 1 said
when a person is susceptible Of a moral
suppression it is well to use suasion, but
ahen that fails. they put on the CAD
until the subject says, yes sirl
agree with Mr.. Gibbs when be says
that teachers fail of understanding hu
man nature; bat hrw do they fail? 1t
is because they deal with all dispositions
alike. Some children are brought up
under proper restraint at home and are
easily managed, while others are 81 i'll
hammered and C%evilish that you cannot
reach their reason except with sn OK
CAD.
Understand me now, when l say that
1 am just as much opposed to the indis
criminate use of the rod, and on all oc
c~asions, as l am to the entire exclusion
of it. It is the judicious use of the rod
commended for. Several of the most pop
ular and experienced teachers in this
section have told me, this spring. that
they would not agree to teach a school
if they were prohibited the use of the
rod.
l make no p%retensions as a school
teacher. but in the position which l have
occupied for ten years past, | have nee.
essarily had considerable intercourse with
school teachers. directors, parents. and
pupils, and the almost universal cry
comes up why are not our schools bet
ter managed? why are they not manag-
ed so well as formerly? why is rot that
hecthenish practice of using the rod more
in vogue? Let me whisper in your ear
an answer, flor the children are already
beginning to find it out, one CT our sua-
sion teachers told me a few days ago,
that one reason why he did not use the
rod and inforce better order was because
he was afraid Of the law. Refractory
boys already look up at the teacher and
say; you touch me and my Daddy will
sue you.
All, Gentlemen, I see ozark and por-
t%entions cloud rising on the horizon of
our Educational interests in view Of such
a state of things as this. Good. whole.
some, moral and physical restr Amt is dis
carded, and anarchy, confusion. discord
and pandemoniums loom up largely with
the future.
Mr.. Gibbs says he 5elieres he speaks
the sentiments Of school teachers gener-
ally. He may believe so, but L knoi0 that
in all my intercourse with teachers and
parents during the past month, in seven
townships, l have only couversed with
one person who agreed with him, and
that was the senior Editor of the Chron-
icls: and in his criticisms on any former
article, evea he admits that he had seen
schools where he felt like sprouting the
whole concern in rotation.
Mr.. Gibbs seems to have progressed
tremendously since the old heather times,
when the rod was used, when the moon
was observed in planting seeds, killing.
&c. How came he to make that pro-
phecy, some time ago, about the kind
of weather we were going to have? Has
Mr.. Gibbs been moon gazing too? He
has progressed about as much as some
of our Legislators have. What a bad
set of men our forsfa.hers must have
beenl What if they did use the rod, !