The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1873-04-25
EDUCATIONAL.
coSprcrrD nr rGor. $. 5. HANCOCK
SCHOOL DISCIPLINE IN EUROPE.

| lIy- ne IcaeDef, especially IN
i, country districts, was chosen as
much for his muscle as for his in
tellectual accomplishments or tact
in teaching. Public sentiment
has now vibrated to the opposite
extreme on this subject, and it is
even maintained by some that no
physical punishment whatever is
needed or should be permitted in
the public schools. 1t is certain
| " true that the best teachers are
those who maintain good disci-
pline and scholarship with the
least amount of corporal punish
ment, and that, as fast as we ad-
vance toward higher ideal OF
education, actual bodily chastise-
ment is supplemented by penalties
ola moral rather than u physical
application. 1t is not, however,
our present purpose to discuss the
question of corporal punishment,
but to give 4 few facts with regard
to the regulations upon the sub
lject in the public schools of the
various countries in Europe.
In Russia, corporal punishment
in the elementary schools was for
hidden as early as 1882. In 1920,
however, it was again permitted,
under certain restrictions, and was
practiced without much limitation
until 1862, when statute was pre-
pared for the government of the
schools, which provided for the
total abolition of corporal punish
ment. A draft of this statute was
submitted to German educators
for criticism and suggestion, and,
of the twenty-one educators who
sent in opinions in regard to the
school law, eleven opposed the
abolition of physical punishment,
eight passed il over in silence, and
only two favored it. Most of the
Russian educators, however, favor
ed the total abolition OF corporal
punishment in all educational in
situations. In this conflict of
opinion the government so modi-
fed the statute that all questions
of this sort were RENTED to the
local boards for decision.
In France, according TO the law
of 1850, still IN force, all corporal
punishment in the primary schools
is prohibited. The punishments
allowed are ''bad Marks" coniine-
mcnt, with a specified task to be
performed, the writing OF the
names of dclinqueHts in a public
''Roll of Shame public repri-
mand, suspension and expulsion.
There is, also, a system of credit
marks and awards to pupils who
perform their school duties accept
ably.
In England the old-fashioned
system Of corporal punishment,
and plenty of it, is still enforced
in both public and private schools,
and for girls as we'll as boys.
There is sometimes a newspaper
furry and excitement over some
extreme case Of punishnent-for
instance, that which occurred
within the last few months over
the "tunding" Of boys in q North
England school-"tunding" mean
ing, in school slang, a beating
with heavy, infleXible wooden
staff-and that which occurred a
year or two ago because of the
severe personal punishment inflic-
ted upon young lady pupils in an
English girls school. But the
British sentiment still clings to
4 81, y Pas4 h@11a q
s'manliness" of the English rising
generation is best secured by a
large amount of jutliciously dis
tributed whippings.
In Switzerland the regulations
as Ia school discipline are left to
tile separate cantons. The rules
of the canton OF Berne are very
sensible. They provide that Gin
matters OF discipline, the teach
ers must proceed with discretion,
lirmness and the greatest circum-
spcction: they must not in action
belle the spirit of love, and must
never punish when in anger" In
other cantons the regulations are
similar; in most cases corporal
punishment is not mentioned. In
the ordinance Of Zurich it is pro-
vided that the teacher, in the ex.
ercise Of his right to punish, shall
avoid everything that might en-
danger the pupils health. In
general, the theory seems TO be
that corporal punishment ought to
be avoided, while in practice it is
very frequently resortcd to. The
law, however, gives the parent the
. right TO prosecute any teacher for
the infection of excessive corporal
ehastisement.
! In Germany the regulations
upon the question of school disci-
pline, while couched in various
; language, all provide for strict
limitation, but not all absolute
prohibition, of the power OF the
j teacher II administer bodily chas.
tisement. The regulations ot
Luncnburg on this subject are as
follows:
The teachers must govern the
school children iItrusted to them
more with words and rcmonstran-
ces than with blows and mere an.
CRY physical violence. In chastIs-
ing pupils they shall observe the
J proper means, use the rod in 8
! proper way and at the right time
and shall preserve good disci
pline.'
; In the school ordinance of Prus
STA, adopted in 1916, il is provided
! that no punishment shall be ad
I ministered exceeding "the bound.
E of moderate parental discipline, ;
( and that the teacher may be pros
:, ecuted Tor any punishment which
2 exceeds the statute. In the town
: of Gumbinnen, in East Prussia,
! the local law is a follows:
"If-in very rare cases-indi.
vidual scholars should really need
. corporal punishment, it can oniy
, be inflicted by the teacher himself
!. after the lessons are over, and il
5 must be done with regard 10 tho
/. physical condition of the child
and with parental moderation
! never so as to endanger health il
+ the remotest degree. Blows witt
r the fist, thumps and blows on thu
{ head or other parts Of the body
will be followed by the seyeres
penalties, even of removal from
|. Office
IL In Pomerania corporal punish
g ment is allowed for all the grades
d except the two upper classes
: where it is regarded as dishonor
J. ing and is to be administered onil
= In extraordinary cases. II va
+ further provided. By a law passe,
Y in 1868, that ''the teacher mus
..:l Ii IL sdlo 81 s.aooo..