Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-04-29
SCHOOL DISCIPLINE.

The question of discipline, as connected
with our school system, has recently been
discussed by correspondents in this paper.
1t is question that is just now attracting
general attention in Europe, and as tending
to throw some light on this mooted subject
we reproduce the salient points brought
out by this discussion. There seems to be
a disposition to reduce the force principle
to still more restricted limits, and place the
whole government of schools ard education
al institutions upon different basis. Re-
fractory or unruly pupils are to be punish
ed, but not in the old manner. There
has been a pretty general aband-
onment of corporal punishment
in the schools of Europe. About 1880, a
law was framed for the total abolition of
the rod in the schools of Russia. In order
to obtain all the light possible upon this
subject, the Gear submitted his system to
experienced teachers in Germany. They
approved the idea. Russian teachers were
unit in favor of the total abolition of cor
poral punishment in all educational insi-
tutions. The matter was settled by re-
hitting the whole question to the local
school boaris for decision. ALI school
statutes of Germany provide for a
strict limitation, but not an absolute
prohibition of the power Of the
teacher to administer bodily punishment.
In the school ordinance of Prussia it is pro-
vided that no punishment shall be admins
tered exceeding ''the bounds of moderate
parental discipline" and that the teacher
may be prosecuted for any punishment
which exceeds the statute. The Pomeranian
statute of 1868 provides that ''the teacher
must avoidtsll idle and indecent words, all
abusive language, all offensive personalities.
he must not go beyond parental discipline;
nor shall parents themselves be permit
ted to use injurious compulsory meas
ures." Excuses Cd the part of
teachers are to be punished by disclpin-
airy penalties, and injuries inflicted on
scholars by prosecution before the civil
courts. Like regulations have lately been
enacted in Msgdeburg and Dantzic, and all
punishments calculated to humilitate or
wound the feelings of pupils are prohibi-
ted. A recent ordinance proclaimed in Ber-
lin, Prussia, prohibits the individual teacher
from inflicting on pupils any physical chas-
tisement whatever. Corporal punishment
can only be int icted in extreme cases, and
in these only by the principal, after con-
sultation with the body of teachers. The
common punishment is to consist in deten-
ton, and no pupil can be detained without
the consent Of the principal. England has
not modified her old ideas to the extent Of
most other European countries, and in Swift.
zerland the question of discipline in schools
is under the control of the different Can
tons. France iorbids all corporal punish
ment in her schools. The punishments
perm tilted are bad marks, confinement after
the usual school hours, with specified task
to be performed, the writing of the names
of delinquents in public troll of shame"
public reprimand, suspension and expulsion.
There is also a system of credit marks and
awards to pupils who perform their school
duties acceptably. But of all these systems,
the friends of education in Europe now
propose TO adopt general plan, which shall
be still more in accord with the educational
progress of the age.