Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1865-1872, 1867-02-22
GifI-Whippinq.


ton and Of Cambridge adjoining, have
been ngitated with the question as TO the
propriety of whipping girls and young
ladies Ia school. A teacher in one Of the
public schools Of Boston was some time
since brought before the courts on the
charge Of administering u cruel aud hu.
initiating chastiscment TO q young girl,
but he was sustained by the authorities.
A similar case occurred ut Cambridge,
the sent Of Harvard University, where u
young lady sixteen years Of age was So.
verify logged. The late election Of school
commissioners at tho latter place turned
altogether on this point, and tho anti
whipping the.girls candidates were elect
ted'by avery small majority. The discus
sion Of the question is still kept up in
Athens aud the surrounding parts, aud is
carried on with no little warmth, pro and
con. DR.. Morrill, Wyman, of Cambridge,
who has been one OF the most active in
denouncing the case of girl-whipping in
that city, has published pamphlet set
ting forth the moral and physical reasons
why corporal punishment should not be
inflicted upon girls. lie snys
"Why should not girls be treated as
boysg Because girls are not boys. Every
parent having children of both sexes
knows that they have moral characteristics
that ut once distinguish them before they
arrive at the school age. They are weaker
in body and more sensitive in feeling, and
are more occupied with the impression
they make upon others long before they
know its value. That delicate sense Of
prOpriety which distinguishes the woman
has already the germ in the girl. They
seem to know instinctively that they can
not rely upon physical strength. aud as
instincliyely cling to others for support
and protection. They are gentle. dOeile,
confding and afectionate. They exhibit
these gentler qualities at home and in the
school in thousand ways; they hasten to
meet their teacher as she approaches in
the morning; they run by her side, they
seize her hand, and evinee their affection
by kisses upon her cheeks aud roses upon
her desk. The skillful aud faithful teach
er takes advantage of these qualities, es-
pecially of their docility, aud so moulds
them that corporal punishment is not
only unnecessary, but it is cruelty.
"Physiologically she is different and to
this Iwould most earnestly beg your at
tention. Her blood corpuscles are small
er, her nervous system of more delicate
structure, her brain is lighter, and her
muscles smaller; she is made for quick ness
and vivacity, but not for strength and
endurance. The same reasons which pre-
vent her from sharing the rougher games
and plays of boys, should protect her from
suffering the harsher puuishmeuts Of boys.
She is more sensitive to internal emotions
and external sensations; and | assert with
out fear of contradiction, that no physi-
elan can be safely trusted to advise for
the preservation Of health or its restora-
ton whe disregards even in the child the
distinction of sex. The most eyentful
period of her physiological life is spent in
school. During this period there is not
unfrequently mental uneasiness, irritabili-
ty and depression, easily mistaken for
petulance and di6ance by the unwise, and
[ greatly fear has sometimes produced
for that for which she is an
swerable to her God alone.
"With a rapidity of development un-
known in the other sex, she becomes
woman, with all a woman's refined sensi-
bilities, hopes and fears. She now instinc-
lively knows that upon the good impress
sion she makes upon others is based her
hopes for the future. If her physical or
is sensitive, her spiritual nature
is doubly sensitive, and it is this that
makes her what she is. 1t is in vain to
count the number and weigh the severity
of the blows upon her person, and note
the hours that elapse detore the marks
disappear. Her spirit is wounded, she is
disgraced and degraded; years may not
efface the consequences. 1t is this that
stirs the sensibilltics and brings down the
censure Of the greater part of the civilized
world, and from none is that censure
more severe than from cultivated women.
Strike not woman, even with feather,
is the motto Of civilization, and 1t Is in
accordance with the spirit of Christianity
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