The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-11-25
NINETEENTH CENrUUR WISDOM.
1t 10 This: Spare the Rod and Save the
Child.


For some months l have ATTEMPTED in
Atlanta and other cities to controvert the
frequently accepted theory that to govern
children there must be resort to the rod.
This seemsto me to be a fallacy and | think
1t may be shown that the flogging of child
of tender years is always harmful and is
the result of, l will not say ignorance, but
certainly of a lack Of comprehension of child
nature by those who so err. Such senti-
ments have not been always accepted as
reasonable and true, but along the line of
reform there has been made considerable
progress, and to-day there is less of phys
lcal violence in the schools of our state than
there was a year ago. And Savannah de-
serves much of the credit for this condition.
Adjustment of corporal punishment in her
public schools has been beneficial to teacher.
parent and pupil; there will be no backward
step in this matter. The teacher who now
resorts to the rod, in vain attempt to CON
troll his pupils, proclaims himself untitled
for the high position which he occupies
was not aware until recently that in these
opinions was sustained by so lofty an
authority as Locke. In the October Nine
tenth Century Mrs. Jessie Waller. nee
Huxley, writes of the training of children
[ have space only for a short extract bear
ing upon this matter. She writes:
With regard to corporal punishment,
think it wholly unnecessary. Even those
who assert that it is good for the children
cannot deny that it is bad for the parents
No one is virtuous enough to be judge, jury
and executioner in one. And if it is harm
full for a mother to treat her child like an
animal, it must no less harm the child to be
treated as one, and to be governed through
the feeling of pain and fear instead of the
higher ones of reason and affection, but
here | cannot do better than quote from
Locke's Essay on Education, which think
very wise. "The usual lazy and
short way by chastisement with the
rod, the only instrument of government
that tutors generally know. is the most unfit
of any to be used in education, for, from
what other motive but of sensual pleas
ure or pain does child act who drudges
at his book against his inclination, or alb
stains from eating unwholesome fruit that
he takes pleasure in, only out of fear of
whipping, and what is it to govern his
actions and direct his conduct by such
motives as these-what is it, say, but to
cherish that principle in him, which it is
our business to root out and destroy, and
therefore l cannot think any correction
useful to a child when the shame of suffer-
ing for having done amiss does not work
more upon him then the pain"
These are wise and humane sentiments. The
reference to tutors, it must be remembered,
was made generation ago, and there are
now no more fervid and burning denuncia-
tions of the barbarous habit of child beat
ing than those which come from the teachers
OF to-day who, being emancipated from a
hateful necessity, desire that others should
also come to acknowledge the truth
am very proud Of Savannah's record in
this matter. Indeed, my heart turns often
to tho city by the sea. l am glad when she
places herself on such high ground.
WIN. r. BOYD.