Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1876-03-02

boys were killed, for he knew that their
SAD END was his fault. So it will be your
own fault ii your children perish through
your neglect to govern them when they
are in tender years
That is one kind of cruelty. Now for
the other.
A lew days ago, a teacher in public
school, to punish child, lifted him by
the ears, dropped him, lifted him again
ana again and dropped him, till the child
was seriously, perhaps fatally, injured.
L have seen lady lifting child by the
ears and carrying ii out of room to pun
Ism 1t for some trifling otfense We are
shocked and disguised by the recital of
brutalities inflicted on children by their
drunken parents or Infatuated teachers !;
Out IL Is quite probable that the amount of
cruelty by injudicious and respectable
parents, under a mistaken sense of duty,
Tar exceeds the crimes OF the ignorant and
incorporate. Many parents box the ears
OF children - striking them square
blow on the side of the head
dangerous and wicked punish
ment. The sudden compression of
the air within the ear is very apt to be in
furious, and the shock to the brain is per-
ilous to the intellect. The injury may
not be perceived at the time, but the
foundation of future and unspeakable suf-
ferlng and sorrow may be laid by one
lnconsiderate blow on the temple of a
child. More common than this, and
equally cruel, Is the practice of pulling
the ears OF children, the most common
mode, with some parents, of Furnishing
their own children. Teachers sometimes
hold a chiid's car while he is reading,
and pinch or pull ii at every blunder
thus hoping TO keep the child's attention
fixed for fear of the pain. A worse mode
could not be adopted, for the child's
mind is diverted 10 the danger and from
the lesson, and so he siumbles Such
parents and teachers deserve corporal
punishment themselves. The delicate or
ganism of the human ear requires the
most gentle handling, and TO treat il as
mere cartilage to be pulled for the
purpose of Furnishing, is piece of inhu-
mainly that reason forbids and religion
condemns. Some parents send their
children into dark closet where they
are in terror of imaginary COLLINS. Per
hapS this Is not AS common as ii was fifty
years ago; but it is not out of use 1t
is not unfrequently the cause of idiocy or
insanity, and no judicious parent will
permit il To be practiced in his house
Nurses often brighten children with tales
of terror, threats of bears and big men,
to carry them off A nurse detected in
such crimes should be discharged before
night She cannot be cured, and she
must not be endured.
Cruel and unusual punishments are for
hidden by human Law. 1t is wonderful
that parental instinct and human love are
not strong enough TO restrain the hand of
fathers and mothers from hastv, passion
ate and Incorporate violence on their own
flesh and blood. A father vents his impa.
thence on the son Of his affections. A
mother worn with care, wanting 10 read
her novel or go tn sleep, beats her babe to
make it quiet. But "a parent or teacher
should never punish child in heat, or
with sudden violence. Such punishment
has no moral force in It, The calm, ju-
dicial, righteous judgment is as needful
in the iniliction Of pain upon ali grring
child as in the sentence of prisoner at
the bar If you cannot govern yourself,
you are quite unfit TO govern children,
and if you strike child in haste, or un.
der excitement, you deserve 10 be whipped
yourself.
Is the rod to be abolished, and would we
condemn the punishment Of children
when they do wrong at home or in school ,
So far from IT, the wisdom of Solomon is
wisdom yet. To deny the right and duty
OF furnishing children is logically to over
turn the government OF man and Of God.
And rs obedience in society is in order TO
the highest happiness of the community,
so in the family those children are the
happicst who are taught and required TO
obey. Scolding will not make them
obedient Fretting makes them worse.
Harshness, severity, cruel pains, loud
words and hasty blows are all wrong.
But AN even temper, intlexible purpose,
unyielding to the entreaties Of the child
who wishes to do wrong; these arc virtues
that dwell in every right mind, and will
regulate the government of every we'll
ordered house. --IrehGus, IN ". J. o.
serGer.
- -
RuhIy Sold