Weekly Trinity journal., 1872-03-23
Communicated.
NO MORE CORPORAL PUNISH
MENT IN THE PUBLIC
SCHOOL.

Parents may use the rod if they wish,
but l shall have nothing more to do with
it. Hereafter when a parent tells me to
"whale him like blazes," l shall tell
him to do it himself. l think no one will
be sorry if can get along without caus-
ing physical pain.
Being desirous Of convincing the people
of Weaverville that have an ambition
to make this term of the Public School
profitable and pleasant, give the main
features of the plan which have chosen
as substitute for the rod.
The school shall be separated into four
divisions, and each division shall have a
monitor, nominated and elected by the
pupils. Each monitor shall keep a record
of the department in his or her division,
| while the school is in session, and shall
note the misconduct of ANY pupil on the
playground. Each offense shall be clas-
| sified and described. The monitors shall
report to the teacher each Friday eve
ming, who shall transcribe from their
| books, into book, kept for the purpose,
the names of those pupils who have violat-
ed established rules provided that no
name shall be entered for less than three
offenses ofa like and trivial nature. Each
offense shall be classified and described
| here also.
Each pupil shall understand that when
his or her name is entered in the teachers
book, it is for the purpose of taking legal
| steps for his or her suspension or expul-
sion. And if the same name appear two
or more times in one month, the pupil
shall be liable to suspension or expulsion,
at the discretion of the the teacher.
Whenever either mode of punishment is
considered necessary the parents and
Trustees shall be furnished with the re-
cord of the pupil.
The above is modification and COM
bination of t,Oo plans. The first part is
an approach to Republicanism, and is
| based upon several considerations, chief
among which are these
We are Republican by nature we love
share in our government, and instinct
lively repel all assumed or usurped au-
thority. The law of action and reaction
applies as we'll to mind as to matter.
| Wherever there is action there is reaction
of like force and nature. When we are
struck, we strike; when praised, we
praise when loved, we love. The school
belongs mainly to the pupils. The
teacher should share the responsibility of
keeping order, but it is not right to i'm
pose the VhOle of it upon him. The
pupils shonld keep order while he teaches.
for he cannot we'll teach and match at the
same time. Each boy or girl has more
vital interest in the school than any
teacher can have, and should be made to
Jeet 1t as soon as possible.
Parents also have more vital interest
than teachers, and their attention should
be called to the fact, and they should be
held TO their natural possibility
is of making their children tedchable.
And this is the object of the last part of
the plan. In this Connection L take
pleasure in calling attention to an article
on this subject, in the last report of Supt.
Fitzgerald. 1t was written by Bernard
Marks, Principal Of the Lincoln School.
S. f., and parts of it shonld be printed
in letters of gold and SttUer and publish
ed everywhere. shall ask the Editor of
the JOURNAL te publish the whole, or a
part of it, next week.
] have implicit faith in the plan have
chosen, and shall lend all my energies to
make it a success. And here | shall ap-
peal to the good people of Weaverville
for cooperation. | have right to expect
it-I have right to demand it. Parents
and friends, it is for you to say whether
this shall be an era in your public school.
1t is for you to say whether the rod shall
remain in perpetual Punishment. AL
though the Slander-fend is amongst you,
and prevents the use of the highest cor
rective po,oer possessed by any human
being, individual magnetism) shall
continue to work NTH you and for you,
10 the last hour. Z. p. AsHBRooK.