The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1886-12-09
CORPORAL PUNISHMENT.
Superintendent Lehman Reports to ihe
Board Of Health,
Submitting Facts on Corporal Punishment
In the Canton Schools---Other
School Business Trans
acted.

At tho Board Of Educaelon meeting
Tuesday evening all members, except
Clark, McGregOr and Harter were pres
ent.
COMMUNICATIONS,
Application of Miss Belle McMurray
for 3 position as teacher, was referred
to Committee on Teachers and Salaries.
Application of William Bell for the
ianitorshlp If the new high school was
referred to Committe on JanitOrs and
Fuel.
REQUEST Of Nicholas Glrlinger to have
his son transferred from the East Fifth
street to the South Plum street school,
on account Of delicate health, was
granted.
REPORTS.
SupeFintendent Lehman submitted
the following report, bearing upon the
subject Of corporal punishment In the
Canton sch o's.
To THE BOARD OF EDUCATION:
GENTLEMEN: AT the last regular
meeting of the Board one Of tine mem
bers, Mr. Clark, asserted that 1t was the
practice In our schools for teachers to
report pupils to the principals for pun
ishment; that the children thus reported
we're often cruelly punished with the
rod, and the principals we're character
lied as human whipping posts" In
order to correct any wrong Impressions
that may have been made by these
charges and In justice to the teachers,
the principals and myself, | make this
special report of the facts in regard to
this matter. Such a charge Implies In
efficiency and incOmpetency on the part
of the teachers to govern their schools
lack Of Judgment and discretion and
a want OF common humanity on the
part of the principals and Super
intendent. Since the last meet
ing, have obtained definite
information from all the principals, and
find that from the beginning of this
school year to the present time, only one
pupil who was reported by teacher to
a principal was punished with the rod
and the Superintendent has not used
the rod in single instance during the
same time Some teachers have II ported
pupils to principals, and some teachers
and principals have reported pupils Il
the Superintendent when this cOurst
was deemed best for the pupil or tht
school, but all such caeea, with sineit
exception, we're disposed Of without tn,
use of the rod, II ls not the rule, bu
the rare exception, TO use the rod rs
means of discipline in the Cantor
schools, In most cases of corporal pun
ishment, suspension or SXpulsiOn wOul
ba the only alternative. This Is prOba
bly, Just what the pupil desIres, thOugl
1t be- far worse for him than whip
ping, and generally Is equivalent t
giving him push down hill.
Expulsion should be resOrted to onl
when the good of the scbool--the great
est good Of the greatest number
demands 1t. Many OF our youth In ou
schools can be taught no more 1mportan
lesson than obedience to the righsfT
authority, and respect for those !
authority. It iS necessary for the pupil
own good, his future happiness and usC
fulnes1, his success in life, and for th
good Of society and the State, that he
trained to obey the law Of tie schoO
so that in manhood he may obey the la
Of the State and respect the rights
his fellow men. If tits necessary to u
rod to cOrQUer an insOIent and insul
ordinate boy, we say use ii. IL childre
were all trained at home to obey promp
yand cheerfully, 1t would be comp9r
lively easy task for the teachers to go
ern the school. In the work Of educ
tlOn, the discipline of the children, al
the training Of the youth for future Gil
zenship q large share Of the respOBslbi
fly rests with the family. and this Wol
can be properly done, only when 81
family and thesch9Ol work In harmon
Gentlemen, the persons In your on
ploy, TO whom has been entrusted Il
teaching and training Of children
our schools, do not claim perfection
their work, and they are always wAl1T
to hear proper suggestions for the II
prOEement Of the school. If criticis
be necessary, it should be made In sut
way as not to impair the teachers Il
huence for good In the school.
Respectfully submitted,
J II. LEHMAN, SUpt.
Canton, O., Dee. III, 1885.
On motion of Mr.. Barlet the repO
was accepted and ordered published.
The proposition OF James Campbell
Son, recommended by the Building Cor
mittee, to put Lindsay granite finish
the corridors Of the high school bull
ing for the additional sum Of 8226 W
adopted.
The compensation of Miss Lille Dav
for her past work a. substitute for Pri
eipal Disler, of The North Cherry sire
school, was, upon motion Of Barli
fixed at $65 per month. Upon mott,
of Laibhn her salary as long rs MI
Davis acts as substitute. was fixed
the same sum.
Moses, of the Auditing and ClsiI
Committee, recommended the all0wan
Of claims, aggregating $7,676.72; II
included estimate No. 16 on the Hi
school, So 813 SO; the teachers pay ro
81 92268, and janltOrs pay roll, &S43
On motion the claims were allowed 81
7 ordered paid.
The plan for arranging the seats
the high school assembly room, sHbm
ted by the Supply Committee, was ref
red to that committee with power to q
The Repair Committee was instruct
to He-arrange the trees In the hi
school yard. Adjourned.
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LOUISVILLE NEWS.