Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1892-04-08
Furnishing PUPILS.
INTERVIEW ON THE SUBJECT OF
CORPORAL PUNISHMENT.

|
! Maynard Children.
A recent circumstance has called up the
/ sore subject of corporal punishment in the
public schools. Being DESTROYS of learning
whether such punishment existed, and if
so to what extent, ! called on the principal
of school No. 8, Mr.. Benjamin Y. Conklin,
at his residence. 1t is distinctly due that
person to state that he not only did not
seek toevade the questions which were put
to him, but that he sought, ON the con-
trary, to give whatever information he
could concerning such punishment. He
evidently realized that public schools were
public property, and as such liable at any
time to be called to account. The follow
ing questions were asked and answered in
| the interview:
is it true that corporal punishment is
Inflicted in the public schools?" at is"
was the reply of the principal
| is such punishment exceptional. or is
| it inflicted in all the schools?" 1T is in
ticted in all the schools"
| is it inflicted in No. 3, of which, sir. Won
are the principal?" 1T is" he frankly ad-
mitted
| as such punishment of daily occur
rence" Hardly. do just as little of it
as can"
What does this punishment consist imp"
I'm the use of the rattan"
us child ever punished about the
headi" Never"
lisa child ear ever kneaded or knuckled-
thumbed?" Never"
Are boys ever triced up by the thumbs
and whippeds" Never"
Has a child ever been punished in your
school, No. 8, to the injury of the childe"
mot to my knowledge"
HAS such n complaint ever been made
to your" Il cannot recall it."
| rs child ever forced to submit to pun
ishmentW Occasionally"
| is there still in use now, as formerly,
any such instrument as the whipping
STOOL in which children were strapped and
whipped, rs at the Walworth street school,
where such instrument of torture was
used up to within three or four years ago?"
Not that know of" said the headmaster.
FRANK OPINIONS.
| "ln case IA child does resist and refuse to
submit to corporal correction, even at your
hands, what course Mr. Conklin, do you
then pursued" Il punish them"
What are children punished for'" Dis
| orderly conduct"
| For anything elseg" No"
| Ever punished for being late or repeat
edly late, or missing their lessons or re-
peatedly missing them9" asked. No"
was the answer
| DO parents ever request you TO punish
their children" Sometimes"
do they ever forbid you to punish
them'" They do"
Are children punished by you privately
or in the presence of witnessess" "Pri
vately"
Are girls ever obliged to take corporal
correction Never to my knowledge"
Are the same set of children punished
over and over again?" "They are"
Does not that fact argue against the
practical effects of such punishment" 81
think not" SAID the principal.
do boys laugh at it or lay it to heart?
Does it harden them into greater obduracy
or breed better behavior in them?" Il
think the effect is salutary"
Have you ever heard of principal in
the pull bic schools of Brooklyn whose meth
cd of punishment is to tell boys TO pick up
a pin and then slash them skin tight as
they bend overl" Il have not"
What would you think of such de-
graded and degrading form of correctional
deceiJ' Would you not despise the cheat
that practiced it?' Il would, most certain
ly," replied the principal.
| ElhlNS bF ltkASHING.
is not fear in your Judgment an ignoble
motive to foster in child as II principle of
action, and can any good and lasting bet
terness ever be produced by such methodist"
Fear is ignoble." said Mr.. Conklin, land
SO is bad behavior. There are some people
who live in the skin and can only be ap-
pealed 10 through the senses"
And you think you are the person au-
thorized to do its'' Il do"
Suppose these same children were grown
up men and still behaving just as badly,
would you strike them?' Certainly not 1"
pray. why notp" Because they are old
enough to take care of themselves" "And
might thrash you beside, Mr.. Conklin?"
l added But as a matter of fact, they
are still behaving badly, with only this ex-
ception, that they are, by all odds, behav-
ing worse than they did when children by
as much as age breeds accountability. You
dare not strike those same boys as men.
But you do dare to strike then, as little,
soft boued baby boys, because they are
helpless and in your power and cannot
strike back. Is not that the only real de-
fenseY i don't think So" replied the
principal
do you justify or condemn such pun
ishment?" IL condemn it utterly"
Now, Mr.. Conklin. let me press you as
the principal of this school "A little more
closely. What, distinctly, is the Furnishing
power conferred upon you as principal of
this SCHOOL," 1t is discretionary with my
self"
do you derive your right to punish
children corporally from any law. and if so
what law?" There is no law, think,
; that provides for such punishment by a
school principal" said the principal
What then, do you derive it from'
Usance?" Yes, simply from allowance.
Suppose civil action was brought
against you for assault by the parents or
) guardians of a child, what valid defense
r could you interpose?" THE courts have
more than once sustained reasonable pun
ishment. where it was clearly shown to be
necessary"
Suppose child with heart disease,
head trouble, hallncination or Il hundred
! kindred disorders dropped dead tainted,
fell III fits or went into commissions under