Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes Co., O. [Ohio]) 1870-1895, 1870-11-10
Whipping In Public Schools.

The subject OF whipping in public
schools has been discussed and re-dis-
cussed time and again. The general
opinion now entertained is that it ought
to be abolished as much as possible.
That it should be done away with en-
tirely, we are not quite willing to ad-
NIT. The great stronghold of teacher
is firmness and gentleness. He should
study to command by firm and digni-
fed department, by native mastership.
The unruly scholar should understand
the disposition of the teacher. If he has
a grain of the Old Hickory Jackson in
his composition, glance of the eye, a
look of reproof is enough. But we
have no Jacksons in these days, and we
are obliged to take our teachers just as
we find them. Then comes the question,
what shall our teachers do with unruly
and rebellious scholars? Moral suasion
won't do in isolated cases. VIII moral
suasion have an effect on a wild boy
who has never had the teaching of
christian subordination, who has never
had the example of fright as an example,
set before him, who has been schooled
at home to do wrong, can moral suasion
have the desired effect on such boy?
We answer no, not in all cases. Nothing
less than good thrashing will do him.
Here, then, the question arises, who shall
do the whipping? Shall the teacher do
it, or shall the trustees of the school do
it, or shall the boy be sent home to his
parents or guardian for the merited pun
ishment? The parent who has let his
child grow up without teaching him
obedience, would not likely give him the
punishment which he deserved; and
even if he did it would not have the
same effect probably ,as if the teacher had
done it. Should the trustees do it, then
the teacher, to certain extent will lose
the confidence of the scholars in his abil
ity to govern. Parents, therefore, should
have confidence enough in their teachers
to submit to any reasonable punishment
which may be necessary to quell their
insubordination. The teacher, also,
must know his place. He must not let
blind passion take the place of cool
judgment in the punishment of his pu-
pills.
He must show a christian spirit, and
an infiexible principle in the adminis-
tration of discipline.
II teacher is reasonable, and does not
overstep the bounds of his jurisdiction,
parents have no right to interfere and
cause trouble in school on account of
the punishment of their children, which
perhaps was not even as severe as was
merited. A teachers influence, however
good he may be, may be greatly de-
stroyed in this way. A great many
people seem to forget that teachers, like
all others, of the human race, are liable
at times to err. If We all should be
called to account for every error we
commit, we might be on the 'Squire's
list all the time.
Last week an instance of this kind oc-
CURED in our public school. For sever
al days a certain scholar, son of one of
our citizens, gave his teacher consider
able trouble by his conduct during
school hours. The teacher having ex-
erted his powers to prevent the repeti-
ton of his conduct to no effect, he used
the rod upon him, how severely, reports
differ greatly. This enraged the parent,
who Immediately had warrant issued
for his arrest. He appeared before the
Justice Of the Peace, and was fined five
dollars and costs. Whether this was
right and just or not, we do not pre-
sumo to say, but we doubt whether it
was expedient, taking the interest of the
school into consideration.