New-York tribune., 1874-04-01
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE.
THE ROD IN THE SCHOOLS.
A PLEA FOR EFFECTIVE DIsCIPrINH-THE BOARD
INDICATION uRIED ID FACE HE QUEsTION.


A pIP, FOR EFFECTIVE DIscIprINR-THE BOARD Os
EDUCATION URGED ID FACE TIE QUESTION
To the Editor Of Ths Trtbuns.
SIR: Is the Board of Education still holding
the corporal punishment question under adVisemen'
have learned that any positive disposition ott mas
been made bur IL verJ important that IL should
be settled Parents teachers and pupils among us arn
deeply interested ia it, aut throughout the country they
looking anxously to see what NewYork IS going
TO do about it, now that the subject under consiera
ton 1t Is grave question, and there will be disap'
pontment delIberation end in hesitation and nacton
The difficulties involved in the question. arising from
the diverse dispositions OF children, tho different meth
ois OF family government, aud the divided feeling Of tho
community as to the need OF corporal punishment IN
schools are apparent than real and IL IL believed
that the wisdom OF our worthy Commissioners viii
prove quite equal 20 their satisfactory solution IL can
have proved inadequate to control perverso
that contribute to the numbers OF every large
school. Besides il attendance is 10 be made compu
sorry atenton TO the curriculum OF study should aso bo
made compulsory the good people OF the 5sts con
induce them tO establish ana support scm oi ifn
schools IL surely would seem proper TO cl0the those who
conduct them with authority enough 10 elect the OBJECT
sought
therefore voluntary. Children seldom appreciate .he
value OF education either tO themselves the public.
Parents and teachers must supply 10 them the wisdom
OF experience when they do this how often IN after
years do they receive thanks for the coercion that made
the habit OF study agreeable On the other hand when
this duty neglected and 10 L too ato to repair tba
injuries OF indulgence, how often 90 tAcy receive hs
regrets II tine curses OF children whose youthful
days they permitted 10 pass unnproyed t Is easy To
dismiss wayward pupils from school bat TINS ~ill no.
boys more than 10 be let loose upon the neRhborhoods
in which they reside. Comprehendtng no connection
their present diligence aud future Welfare they
feel more OF their loss or the loss OF tho
community from their ignorance than would - many
unclaimed tigers Dismissal only reehi0rces the danger
Ous classes u the absence o. any sem Of apprentice
ship, discipline in our schools becomes tne aDSoht'
necessity IL not the only hope, OF our public wefare 70
the futufe In discipline Is mental and physical
growt aud strength, health happiness ami prosperity,
morality and even religion, bccause all these now
naturally from IT. stream from It's fountain WIN
it there be no improvement OF any KIND order
and freedom constitute the best government: but
order there must be whether there Is freedom not.
What would OF schools In the event OF their
as 10 is known to be where the moral suas0n idea
prevasi do not believe majority or school children
desire the abolition OF corporal puni.hment IL II not
terror to those who do well but wholesome restraint
upon who 10 school only because they are sent.
and who have desire TO learn anything themselves.
and do to permit anybody else to be stud0us
n they prevent IL. There is no one VINO his ever
school who does not remember how intensely he
yearned to see these troubers brought to Justice and
vino does not also remember how smoothly the ma
offender himself participating in the general JOY.
But suppose ali unite in expeing the hated rod and
Children as well as adults. should tnat
q new application OF the democratic idca and total
perverson of the original design OF our free insttu-
lions The Constitution does not guarantee republican
form OF government 10 families and schools Ihe one
man power s still, God and man always ineaded IL
should be- sole arblter there.
Admit that many parents ana teaehers are uu"tsn
and times unjust in the management OF chli-
dren still remains that poor governments better han
no government. Very few teachers are born discpna
rians they are at the worst as Judlcous ~ the
average parent. every principal or our pubic schools
were free TO use the according TO his Discretion s
safe 10 say that 90 out OF every 100 its pupils wOun 90
through their entire Of study without its appca
ton If our educational fathers feel bound to recOgnIo
the sentiment represented by those who are 10
corporal punshm let them designate az least ono
centrally situated school in which the rod may be used
and 10 which all who cannot be easily managed ia mo
other schools shall be sent for discipline and instruction.
Let good discpllnaran be placed at the head OF ~
with 80 Of experience IN guiding the ednca,
ton OF New.York youth land with very little need OF
severIty am prepared to affirm my belief that TINS
will in a short time become the most orderly the nap
York. GEO. W. NLAhhh'
No. 40 Washington-square, March 90, 1874