Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1892-03-02
Furnishing PUPILS.
INTERVIEW ON THE SUBJECT OF
CORPORAL PUNISHMENT.
4 Broehiyn Principal Taihs Freely on
the Methods Of whipping Bodily Pun
ishnisat Has = saiutary Eject on som.
Maynard Chiidrsn.

ishn,sat Has = saiutary Eject on som.
Maynard children.
A recent circumstance has called up the
sore subject Of corporal punishment In tho
public schools, Being DESTROYS OF learning
whether such punishment existed. and II
% TO what extent, called on the principal
OF school No. Q, Mr.. Benjamin Y. Conklln,
at his rcsidence. II Is distinctly due that
person 10 state that he not only did nos
seek toeyade the questions which were put
To him, but that he sought. on the con.
trsry, TO give. whatever information he
could concerning such punishment lie
evidently realized that public schools were
public propcrty, and as such liable at any
time 10 be called to account. The follow.
ing questions were asked and answered In
the interview
is IL true that corporal punishment Ia
inflicted In the public schoolsi" ut Is"
was the reply Of the principal
rs such punishment exceptional. or Is
II inflicted In all the schoolsp at 10 In.
nicted In all the schools"
"Is II inflicted In No. 0, Of which, sir, you
sre the prinrIpal" 1T l." no frankly ad.
mitted
rs such puniahmept Of daily occur
renee" Hardly. I do Just a. little OF Il
~ can"
"whai docs this punishment consist imp
"ln the use OF the rattan"
rs q child ever punished about tho
headf" Newer"
"IsA ohild'soar ever knsaded or knuckled-
thumbedr Never"
"Are boys ever triced up BY tho thumb.
and whippcdi" "Ney.r.n
Has child ever been punished In your
aaA.uat NJ. 10 -. l..t., "a a. ~ AZ
"Sot TO my knowledge"
Has such a complaint ever been made
20 your II cannot recall It,"
"ls a child ever forced TO submit TO pun
ishnientp Occasionally"
lis there still In USE now, ~ formerly,
any such instrument a. the whipping
stool. In which children were strapped and
whipped, as ut the Walworth street school,
where such instrument OF torture was
used mp to within three or four years agop
mot that know Of" said the hcadnAster
FRANK OPINIONS.
I'm case child does resist and refuse to
submit TO corporal correction, even at your
hands. what course. Mr.. Conklin, do you
then pursue" II punish them"
What are children punished forr "Dis-
orderly conduct"
"for anything clsei" mo"
"lo~er punished for being late or repeat
edly late, or missing their Lessons or ro-
peatedly missing them" | asked. "No."
WIS the answer.
DO parents ever request you to punish
their children" "Sometimes.n
DO they ever forbid you to punish
them" "rhey do"
"Are children panished by you privately
or In the presence Of witnessear "Pri.
vatcly"
Are girls ever obliged to take corporal
correction" Never TO my knowledge"
Are the same set Of children punished
over and over againp "rhey are"
Docs not that fact argue against the
practical effects Of such punishment II
think not" said the principal.
DO boys laugh ut II or lay Il to heart,
Does It harden them into greater obduracy
or breed better behavior In themf" II
think tho efiect Ia salutaty"
"Iiave you ever heard OF a principal in
the public schools Of Brooklyn whose meth.
od OF punishment Ia to tell boys to pick up
pin and then alaAh them skin tight as
they bend over" IL have not"
"what would you think OF such a do
graded and degrading form Of correctional
deceiti woui- Jou not despise the cheat
that praotieed TIP II would. most certain
w rcpiicu thc principal.
ETHICS OF TBRAsntsG.
is not fear In your judgment an ignoble
motive to foster IN a child M principle Of
action, and can any good and lasting bet
tsrness ever be produced by such methodist"
"fear is ignoble," said Mr. Conklin. land
no Is bad behavior. There are some people
who live In the skin and can only be ap
pealed To through the senses"
And you think you are the person Au.
thorized to do itr II do"
Suppose these same children were grown
mp men and still behaving Just Is badly.
would you strike themi" Certainly not"
"pray, why notp "BocAuse they are old
enough to take care OF themselves" "And
might thrash you beside, Mr.. Conklin"
added. But, Us u 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
A. much rs age breeds accountability. You
dare not strike those same boys IA men.
But you do dare to strike them rs little,
.oft bOned baby boys because they are
seipless and in your power aud cannot