Randolph journal. [volume] (Winchester, Indiana) 1865-186?, 1867-01-31
Girl-N hipipIug.

Joining, have been agitatcu with
the question "a to the prupfiety OF
whipping girls and Young ladies in
school. a teacher in one OF the
public schools or BDstOu was some
time since brought before therOugts
on the charge OF notwithstanding a
cruel and hdmiliatin" chastiseinent
L. a young girl. but he was sustain
c.i by the authorities y similar
ease occurred at Clnlbrllr,, the
seat of Harvard University, where
Il Young lady sixteen year of are
was severely fiogged. The late
election OF school commissioners ut
the latter place turned altogether
ON this point, and the anti-whip-
ping-the girls candidates We're elect
cd by Il very small majority. The
discussion OF the question i >tils
kept up in Athen, and the sur
rounding parts, and Is carried on
with no little warmth, j,y'O 0jld c1H.
lDf. Morrill, Wynln. 1f Cambridge,
who has been one OF the most active
in dcn0uncing the case Of girl-W hip
ping in that city, ha, published a
pamphlet setting forth the moral
and physical reasons why corporal
punishment should not b. inflicted
upon girls. He says:
why should not girls be- treated
II boys? Because girls are not boys.
Every parent having children OF
both sexes knows that they have
moral characteristics that at once
distinguish them before theY arrive
1T the school age. They are weaker
i'm body and occupied with the inn
preston they make upon others
long before they know it, value.
Tnat delicate sense OF pr0pr!ety
which distinguishes Che woman has
already tn. germ in the girl. They
seem To- know in>tinctivcly that
they can not rely upon physical
strength, and Is lnstinctively cling
ia Others for support and protcc-
ton. They are gentle, docile, con-
fiding and affectionate. They ex-
hibit these gentler qualities ut hume
and in the school in thousand
ways; they hasten To mccs their
teacher rs she approaches in the
morning; they run by her side, they
seize her hand, and cvincc their
affection by kisses upon her checks
and roses upon her desk. The skill
full and faithful teacher takes advan-
tagc of these qualities, especially OF
their docility, and 80 mOuld> them
that corporal punishment j. not
only unnecessary, hut it i cruelty.
"Phy,iclogically she is different,
n lxs 4 , l.
beg your attention. Her blood cor
puscies are smaller, her nervous
system of a more delicate structure.
her brain is lighter, and her mus
cles smaller; she j. made for quick
ness and vivacity, but not Cor
strength and endurance. The same
reasons which prevent her from
sharing the rougher games and
plays of boys should protect her
from suffering the harShcr punish
ments of boys. She is more scnSi-
tive To internal emotions and eXter-
nal sensations; and | assert without
fear of contradiction, that no phySi-
elan can be safely trusted to advise
for the preservation of health Or its
restoration who di>regard> even in
the child the distinction OF sex.
The most cVentful period of her
life is spent in schools. During this
period there j. not unfraquently
mental uReasine>~. irritability and
depression, easily mistaken for pet
ulance and defiance by the unwiSe,
and greatly fear has sometimes
produced punishment for that for
which she il anSWerable To her God
alone.
with u rapidity of development
unknown in the other sex, she be-
comes woman, with ali WOnIan'S
refined Sensibilitic>, hopes and fears.
She now inStinctively knows that
upon the good impression she
makes upon others i based her
hopes for the future. Ifher phy>i-
e,li organization Is sensitive, her
spiritual nature il doubly sensitive.
and il i this that makes her what
she il. Ii is in vain To count the
number and weigh the severity of
the blows upon her person. and
note the hours that elap>e before
the marks disappear. Her spirit l.
wounded. she l. disgraced and tie
graded; years may not eflace the
consequences. 1t is this that stirs
the sensibilities and brings down
the censuue OF the greater part OF
the civilized world, and from none
i that cenSure more severe than
from cultivated woman. Strike not
Il woman, even with Il Gather. l.
~, ,.,.t,, - ..;x-ili1affnp ,nI IL i
i'm accordance with the spirit of
Christianity also"