The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1869-12-04
Punishment in school.


Whipping Is relic Of barbarian" 81
have not he'd eepasioa to uss the-s od fee nms
tean yees." y VS. renark nads by !
teacher IN one Of our city schools. It struck
US with some surprise, for this person hsp-
psned to be s1i6, aid We had heard of Ger.
tain teachers of the "gentler sex" who had
dourished the raw-hide very injuriously and
not altogether seldom. We were revolving
the thing in our mind in connection with the
death of q little child in Chicago, whose pun
ishing in school terminated in brain-fever, the
dying child pleading to be kept from the
blows of the teacher. The teacher was a
woman. The teacher may he twas, we think
exonerated by the Board of Education-but
any intelligent physician knows that a slight
predisposlng cause may suffice, in critical
condition, TO lead On to death. nv tG 81
Some childrens perhaps many merit good
fogging. But it is not every teacher that can
properly administer the same. % A degrading,
injudicious punishment of any kind, inflicted
when not deserved, or q punishment admin
istered in anger, In excessive severity, destroys
at once the respect of the school towards the
teacher. For instance, we heard Of boys
being logged this week for not being able to
do an example in Arithmetic-struck half
dozen blows on his hands with d raw-hide;
and then little after, as many more Jlo,cs,
and made to stand on his feet about two
hours. After this, the teacher was obliged to
give aid in doing the example; for the boy
simply could not dolit.s Scholars who knew
the boys inability and saw his treatment will
have an opinion of such . teacher nowise
complimentary. Not unfrequently the rod is
short method of yenting ones, i'll humor, or
the instrument of excited passion. If it were
the teachers invariable rule not to infict a
punishment with it, till the close Of the SEES
sion, or till after the lapse of an. hour, and
then giving the child ample time and oppor-
tunity to make confession or PREPARATION, there
would be very Little occasion for g barbarism,"
Or disgusting brutality in whipping.
But there are other punishments which are
more Objectionable than whipping. We mean
those which involve violation of natures
laws; such as standing for hours shutting in
from recess; holding out the arm or hand for |
a long period of time; or holding out book
in the hand.
Sometimes children may be kept in at re-
cess without injury, OF othei. times with
great injury. Punishments of this kind, wher-
ever practced, should be reported by all the
scholars to their parents; particularly when
children are made to stand, hold out the hand, |
or put ones self in an unnatural position and |
made to remain in it. Ignorance and brutal
ty of that kind should be known in order to
be guarded against and as far as possible pre-
vented, or possibly PUNISHED. ia"i'f wye Il
Lesser punishments, for minor offences,
such as dropping pencil, speaking in the
halls, laughing in thetyards, exposing scho-
lar on ounces block for being tardy, (una-
voidab|yor otherwise,) may all be necessary
and well enough in their places. These
things, however, are indispensably necessary.
First, that the rule be just and necessary:
one, and that the punishment be just; Second,
that the punishment be inflicted apart from
passion and CAPRICE Third, that it shall tend |
directly to reform and benefit the child, or |
benefit the school and Last, that the punish.
ment inflicted as in the presence Of and under
the eye of the parent The work of the teach
er is difficult; but one not adequate to 1t, had |
better not attemptit A good teacher, Of cul-
tivated manners and refined feelings, and of
just self control, having benevolent heart,
holds high place in the esteem of parents,
and will be remembered with a growing af-
lection by scholars through all the years of life.
We! We! VIcTIs !--Tidings from Boston
Of the most heart.rending character stun the
public ear, Parker Pillsbury has gone back
On the niger! All last summer and for a
year before dark hints from loyal as well as
1isloyal sources at the south as to the blank
failure and utter worthlessness of the free ne
gro kept worrying the pious soul of Boston
until their chief apostle Parker
Pillsbury could stand 1t no longer, and he said
II viii 60 and see for myself" He went; he
pent three months mingling with and watch
ng the man and brother Then Parker re-
urned to Boston, and the faithful gathered
around HIM to hear lis report. To their ut
er astonishment, Parker told them the negro