Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1869-11-15
Froggfng I'm the Public schools.

The question Of the proper mode of govern
ment for the public schools and in this connec-
ton of the propriety Of corporal punishment, is
cling discussed quite generally BIZ the press.
State Legislatures and municipal governm ents
nave also taken the matter up. In some States
acts have been passed prohibiting corporal pun
;Shment- and the progress of public opinion Is
uHdC uLtecly in that direction. In Chicago the
controversy IL a heated enc, in consequence of
the local feeling caused by the death OF little
10y alter COLI oral punishment, and whoee last
fcveTish words were a piteous appeal to the
teacher not 70 strike him again. The Board of
TGuCation of that city, after considerable debate
came to a tie vote upon the question of abolish
ing corporal punishment. A majority of the
E"ard seemed 20 lie opposed to such punish
ment. but some thought that it should not be
zone away with until a substitute should
he provided by the Board for the guidance
ef the teachers of severe
corporal punishment i'm school of the Third
District of this city, has, in connection with
some other cases of the sort heretofore, created
considerable feeling and is likely TO cause the
me discussion here that is taking place else
where. a to the merits of the system OF corporal
punishment a mode Of school government.
Prom the general and growing interest in the
matter give considerable space to-day in
Icrintendent Richards upon school gov
eminent and school punishment, "a set
foIIh at late meeting of the teachers of the
city. He holds that while the teacher can
set along without CORPORAL punishment in
ninety-nine cases ont of hundred, that 1t is
Necessary to use the roll sometimes. He argues
That the teacher il q iR loco parentiS''-in the
IlGceof the parent for the time being, and has
the same tight to punish that the parent has
This sounds we'll, but will not bear examination
The ever-woTked teacher, however judicious
and considerate, cannot occupy the intimate
parental relation to each of his sixty pupils that
viii enable him to study their different charac-
te'i>tiCs of temper and disposition, and TO deal
with them understandingly on that knowledge;
ard Wien it is reno mbered that a large proper
~ CT our teachers are misses in their teens or
not much beyond, the fallacy OF the proposition
= fuTtl,r shown.
Mr.. Richards makes point that pupils who
require fogging at school are those who are
logged at home. If this proves anything. it is
that the hogging does little good either at home
or at school Further, the doubt NAV be ex-
pressed If our public schools are to take the
place Of Reform Schools for ''hard cases." and
the teachers made public-hoggers to break i'm
refractory bows who cannot be beaten into sub
mission at home. Nor DO we believe it is con-
oEcive To the interests of the public schools that
the studies of whole school shall be interrupted
While the teacher performs his grim task of
Fubie-togger on the boy who has been whipped
:; ECme until he is callOus.
There was considerable applause at the
Teachers Meeting when prO-fiogging sentiment,
were uttered; but we noticed that it came
n1inly from the No. gaiters-from the young
T. male teachers lacking large experience i'm
their business or much capacity in moral gov
rTEment, and able TO rule only By the rod that
crudt>t form of government. The Grammar
School teachers who took part in the discussion,
either opposed fOgging in toto or held to
resort to it only i'm extreme cases
NJ. Thompson, of the Fourth District Grammar
School, the oldest teacher in the city, and one of
the most successful, stated that he had not found
IL necessary to use the rod in two years, though
D." avOved himself to be corporal punishment
nlan on occasion. and thought there were more
Objectionable Punishments than whipping, such
- keeping children III after hours, &C., &c. to
ile dctriment of their health. Mr.. Roys, teacher
Of the Second District Grammar School, reject
81 CORPORAL punishment altogether. He had
tiled il in one instance in his school career at
the request q the pupils guardian, and was sat
l-htd II did more harm than good.
enc lady teacher of considerable experience
His~ Tho Eii>, argued that il not possible to
q deal with bal boys without giving them
''soIae une .sint - of BODY" and she made some
Pretty good shots in behalf OF corporal punish
mcIt. pEe Of III, Trustee present also held
that corporal puni~hmt M ca@Id rot be aban-
s.CTed. altp-. thor.
But II ali the teachers and school authorities
we're united upon the necessity al logging it
would not bc satisfactory eTi,,ence. AL the
naval Of. crs in service we.e unani nous in
the opinion that discipline coald not h. main
tanned in tie Navy without fog sing. anl that
the service would 20 to the dogs ii il was aban-
'ioned; Int logging in che Nsyv w. abolished,
and We hear lao more oi the service soins {, the
,.oCs on sha. account.
SO when h"gging l. abolished ,n the Public
School, quite certainly il Viii be ~ ID dis
tsl-' daf-We dare say that the schools viii not
20 ~ the uOs, III consequence.