River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1878-04-18
A QUESTION OF JUSTICE.
BY G. ". MCINTYRE.


/ have heard the remark that eff a
child is punished at school he should
| be again punished when he goes
home The idea is not new one but
| have heard it repeated SO often and
so recently. and it differs SO widely
from my ideas of justice that feel
constrained to express my opinion of
the subject.
Whipping is usually an unpleasant
exercise both for pupil and teacher,
and should only be reserted to. if at
all, when the welfare of the school
eninently demands it. If resorted to,
the punishment should be severe
enough to subdue insubordination, AID
administered in such manner that no
serious injuries could result.
When the child's temper is mastered
and he is convinced that it would be
| better from him to remain loyal
subject, The punishment is severe
enough, and the little offender should
not be ''put twice in jeopardy of life
or limb" ''for the same offense."
Children have consciences and are
capable of being offended as well as
older people. They have ideas of
right and wrong which are sometimes
quite as correct as those expressed by
| their venerable sires. 1t is possible
| for child to think that he is misused
and it is also possible that lie may be
right, for even ''school teacher, =
may be mistaken. A child should
have confidence enough in tbs justice
of his parents, not to fear to go to them
| in his time of trouble. | do not wish
| to convey the idea that children should
be encouraged in telling every thing
| which happens at school, but if Il child
| thinks he has been wronged at school,
or elsewhere, justice demands for him
an impartial hearing at home. lie
should not be afraid to go to his par
ent and tell him honestly and frakly
the whole truth, which he certainly
would be if the loving father made a
practice of duplicating the teachers
logging without further evidence of
his guilt.
| say, let him tell his story. If you
think the teacher is justified in punish
ing him, tell him so and advise him to
do better. If you doubt the justice OF
the punishment, go to the teacher ana
hear his story. If he failed to justify
himself in his action and the punish
ment was very severe, report the case
to the members Of the school board of
your district and let them deal with
him, or carry the case to court if you
choose, but don't whip your boy. |
say again. go to the teacher and talk
with him. go to him first. Visit the
school, if you send children it is your
duty.
/ fWhile we concur heartily in the last
sentence, and with proper limitations,
in the whole, we feel that the danger
is not i'm the direction pointed out by
the writer. The threat alluded TOBIAS
not, that we know of. done any great
harm, but rather good, as it gives the
children an idea that the teacher is to
be sustained. We do not urge brutal.
ity, but after seeing a dozen or more
schools during the winter, which have
failed because the parents, after de-
manding at school better discipline
than they can enforce at home. have
sustained the pupil in acts of rebellion
| against good order, we fear the result
of home suspicion OF teachers. Young
America is not prone to be too meek.
i The idea of his rights, which leads
him to obey no one, not even parents,
is disastrous in future life. When q
child is hurt by any one. the parents
I sympathy Is aroused to that extent,
which viii prevent at least, cruelty,
but not always foolish anger against
the child-s best friend. We will RISK
the parental instinct to protect It's
own.-H. S. B.