Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1864-10-21


| CoRPoREAL PUNISHMENT IN School
For falsehood, for deliberate cruelty
for oppression to a smaller schoomate
for persistent and willful neglect, for oper
and defiant characterization, we would
fog the offender in open school. AnC
we would use the old instrument, in the
old manner, discardiug the ruler, which
appears to be the fashion in certain quar-
ters, as both inefficient and dangerous,
and not using the hand alone, under any
pretext. An occurrence happened some
years since, which satisfied US Of the i'm
propriety of any other than the orthodox
mode. We saw child whose hand
had been ruined by the severe applica
ton of the ruler to the palm. The teach.
er who did it was not brutal on the con
trary she was lady in feeling and prac-
tice-one who had not the desire to harm
a worm. The punishment was not vim
dictive, nor excessive in amount it was
administered with ordinary vigor and
doubtless from a mere sense of duty
Indeed, the child was a favorte pupil
yet the result was lamentable. The chile
was crippled in the hand the teacher
though the parents finally forgave her
has never fully forgiven herself 1t il
the memory of this occurrence which
has impressed on us the necessity
calling teachers attention to the matter
in journal conducted for their owI
bese6t, rather than having it done il
Journals of less friendly character
And though the case is an extreme one
so long as there is possibility of it
occurrence again, under similar circum
stances, it is worthy of grave and care
full consideration. The idea of Aoggin,
on the hand is humane one, and tn
practice, theoretically, not liable to pro
duce mischief. If the blows were struc
entirely on and across the palm, nothin
injurious could we'll ensue. The tissue
there are thick, elastic, and capable O
resistance. But, partly from the nalura
1 shrinking of the little hand, and partl
from an occasional nervousness on tn
part of the teacher, it is difficult to s
graduate the blow that it will not fa
partially upon the joints at the base q
: the fingers and it is blow of precise
ly that character in which b DANCE
lies. In the case we refer to, inham
y nation followed, there was "ioint fel
on" and, in spite of careful surgica
' treatment, an anchylosis of the finge
Joint, leaving a permanent deformity.-
Blows and cuffs on the head, no teach
er, who reflects, ever gives. The prac
; tice is dangerous and utterly indefensi
BILE.
There are occasions, we repeat, whel
boys must be fogged, if you woul,
maintain discipline and good order; an,
we do not care how reasonably sever
the hogging may be if deserved. Blu
switches are cheap, and nature has pro
vided portion Of the human anatom,
where the switch can be sharply applied
with impunity. With girls it would b,
more difficult but blow need rarely /
: ever, be applied to a girl. Milder pun
ishments can be effectually used. In th,
=, case Of a boy, there may be no trouble
There is tempting prominence Away.
ready for the disciplinarian. The max
im Of King Solomon may receive due
reverence without danger to the recipi-
ent OF his cherished application. But
, blows on the hands or head are manifest.
ly improper and punishment in those
few cases in which a clever teacher will
find the rod TO be needed, should be hon.
ored both 10 the breech and the observ-
ance,--4meTiean Educational MoRtlIy