, 1873-10-16

PUBLIC SCHOOLS AH REEORmAT0RIES.
It has becn but fow woekR Binco the Super
ntondcnt Of Public Schools OF this city congrat~
1latod tho Board of Education and tho public
generally upon the fact that during tho entiro
school year 1923 there had not boon single
caBe Of corporal punishment in tho schools Of
this olty and that during that yoar tho order and
discipline Of tho schools had boon better than |
in any previous yoar. Tho attention Of tho Board |
Inns now boon called to caso Of toacl,or who |
inflicted punishmont upon boy, using for that
purpose what is known as a raW-lido. Tho |
fact Of whipping and tho uso Of tho
raw-hido for that purpose arc admit
tod. Tho boy received one blow across
tho face, which tho tcachor attributes to tho at
tcmpt by the boy to ward of tho blow by raising
his arm. What tho olfenso Of the boy vas is not
stated; but 1t could not have been SERIOUS. be-
causo tho toacher did not resort to tho remedy
Of suspension.
Wo do not propose to discuss hiscaso, which is
now on trial, But VIC do desire to call attention
again to the great mistake made by tcachcrs
whom thoy act on tho assumption That the public
schools nre reformatorioe, and TINT 1t Is my part
OF their duty to exercise the dovil by tho use Of
tho raw-hido, or any other implement, upon tho
body of tho child supposed to be possessed. The
public Bchoole arc educational establish4onta,
aud particularly for cb1dron of tondor years.
Eighty por ccnt of tho children attending these
schools are under 10 years OF ago. majority
,oA
subjects for discipline TINT iucludes aoggipg in
any shape. They should not bo subjected to 1t
themselves, nor be compelled to Witness Its in
Fiction upon othors.
Tho question Of how refractory and immoral
childron uro to be treated ia ono that aamits Of
no difficulty. In d total attendance Of 10000
children In year, there aro not thirty cases Of
| this kind. Whom a boy or girl, By bis or her
| conduct, becomes offensive and domornlizing to
the school; whom ho or sho by speech, act, OF
example IL liable to destroy the discipline Of the
Echool, or corrupt tho manners or the morals o1
tho other children, all tho teachor haa to de
is to exclude the dangerous pupil. 1t la Iii
duty to do thia, 11o has no right to imperil tl'
whole school by the prosonco Of q vicious pupil
II tho boy or girl 8 no hal that nothing loss tim,
tho uso OF raw-hto is ot1icacioue, then thu
boy or girl is not tit to ho in tho school at nl
aud should be promptly excluded.
But, while this is tho proper. sensible, m
legal way Of disposing Of the difficulty, som
toacherB cannot content themselves with adopt
ing it. They conceive TINT they are In som
way responsible for tho moral reformation of til
roprobatet md, with tho zeal Of all beginner
In reform. they put their faith in forco. Ihe
haye full confidence in t1ogging. They ar1
themselves with n.horso-whip, raw-hido. or cant
and, stalking valianty among the 8-yoar"ole
threaten tho annihilation Of any ono VII
dare whisper, chow restlessnoss, or botray ut
evidence OF discomfort or discomfort. Whom
boy rebels, and naturally, against this display
force. forthwith tho toachor applies tho raw-lld
Wherein Ia tho victory2 The man il strongt
thnn tho boy, and tho latter ia beaton. Th
boy and MI tho othor boys attribute the trump
Of tho teacher to his superior strength alon
No moral lesson ia conveyed on tho contrar
tho childrcn regarding II aa moro struggle b
tween strong man and woak boy, NIL tue
aympathiaa arc with tue weaker. and. If th'
could, they would unanimously rover
tue reea1lt. Tint ia tho inevitable reault Of Il
retor1natory process, using tho raw"hldo aa Il
reforming agent. What the Board OF Educate
Inns to do ia to in,press upon tho minda Of Il
toaca,ors tlat tho public schools ara not Rotor
Schools and that boys and girls who aro prop
subjeots for tho diaciplipe Of the Reform Soho
arc not proper persons to attend the pub
schools.