, 1873-08-05

ELUGd1Nt LIN IdE FUBLlt huHUUL8.
at the last meeting Of the Board OF Education
OF this city, tho Superintendent made report
which bogins with tho following sontenco: '
In presenting tho recommendation which ia to fol-
low, would prcniso these statemcnta: Tor year
havo tried tho experiment. Of tho iauso corporal
punishment. THUS succeeded beyond my 4uost sangua
expectations.
Under those circumstances, it is not lilcly tint
logging will ever DO restored to tho public
schools. Ono yoar's trial hos sufllccd to explode
the predictions that If tho children knew that
hogging was abolished thoro would bo an end to
discipline. and ortor and decenoy in tho schools.
Tho Superintendent has been considering plum
whereby these children whose conduct is 30 Vi
cioua as to compel their expulsion or susponaion
can bo provided with schools, separate and apart
from tho other schools. Ho proposes tho ostab-
liahtnent OF one or moro schools whore all pupils
committing offonsos for which thoy aro Buapond-
cd can bo sent, as to d reformatory; and ho
thinks that aucl discipline for this school eau bo
established Us will make good boys aud good
girls of bud boys and bad girls. Tho mistake
which the Superintendent and the long
time advocates Of nogging mako il,
in assuming that tho public schools
arc in any sense roformatogy or penal institli-
tions. TAoao schools aro intoudod to afford tho
children who attond them tho means Of instruc-
t!on in reading, writing, arithmetic, etc. Tho
inlnatoa aro expected md required to be orderly
in thoir behavior, and decent in their manners,
speech, and notions. 1t is 4 matter Of prime
necessity that children who do not boAava them
solyoH, whoso conduct ia vicious, whose example
ia corrupting. and whose manners and sposch
arc Indecent, should bo excluded. Tho in-
torosts OF tho great body Of tho chill
dron should not 10 imperilel by asso-
citation with tho fow wloso conduct is
criminal in itself Or dangerous in Its example.
Tho lattor class, when found In tho school, aro,
aftcr fair trial, excluded, either by suspension
or expulsion. TAoy can, however, ut any time
roturn to school whom they have reformed their
habits, or givo ASSURANCE Of tAor future good
behavior. Tho Superintendent now proposes to
establish separate schools for this casB Of clil.
lron; that when boy or girl lnisbohayoB, tho
teacher can transfer tho child to this separate
school; and from this school ho or ate can bo
transferred back whom tho toaclor In charge ro-
ports that lie or slo IL sufficiently reformed.
We doubt tho adytaability OF any sucli instilu-
ton. Tlero aro four or tlyo hundred teachers in
tho schools, each of whom would of noceasity
DO clothed with tho discretion to tranHfor
child to this reformatory. each becoming thore-
by n colleague OF Danyon MS committing mag-
istrato. Tho children aont to tl,is school would
bo under tho ban Of Disgrace; they might aa
vol DO forced to woar a badge Indloating TINT
for their bad conduct or hablts thoy wore at
tonaing a roformatory for tho cure Of bnd boys
and bud girls. Parents would naturally refuse
to lot their childron attend such a school, The
experience Of tho Board Of Education In tho
matter Of corporal punishment, that tho only
aafety against tho mtauao Of tie discretionary
power to tog WAS to discontinue nogglug alto