Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1892-02-27
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
80 to what extent, / called on the principal
of school No. 3, 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 70 be called to account. Tue follow
ing questions were asked and answered in
the interview.
rs it true that corporal punishment is
inflicted in the public schools" 1T is"
was the reply of the principal
rs such punishment exceptional, or is
it inflicted in all the schools" 1T is in
ficted in all the schools"
rs it inflicted in No. 3, of which, sir, you
are the principal" 1T is. he frankly ad-
mitted.
CTS such punishment of daily occur
renee" Hardly I do just as little Of it
as ] can"
w hat does this punishment consist IMP
"In the use Of the rattan"
"Is a child ever punished about the
head" Never"
"Isachild' S ear ever kneaded or knuckled-
thumbedy" Never"
"Are boys ever triced up by the thumbs
and whipped2" Never"
Has a child ever been punished in your
school, No 8, TO the injury Of the child|
"Not TO my knowledge"
Has such a complaint ever been made
70 youW Il cannot recall it,"
rs a child ever forced to submit to pun
ishmentf' Occasionally"
rs there still in use now, as formerly,
any such instrument as the whipping
stool. in which children were strapped and
whipped as at the Walworth street school,
where such instrument Of torture was
used up to within three OF four years agoi"
mot that know of, " said the headmaster
FRANK OPINIONS.
I'm case a child does resist and refuse to
submit to corporal correction, even at your
hands, what course, Mr.. Conklin do you
then pursue~ Il punish them"
What are children punished for" Dis
orderly conduct"
For anything else2" No"
Ever punished for being late or repeat
edly late, or missing their lessons OF re-
peatedly missing them" | asked. INC"
was the answer.
DO parents ever request you to punish
their chiidren" Sometimes"
do they ever forbid you to punish
them" They do"
Ara children punished by you privately
or In she presence Of Witnesses "Pri-
vately"
Are girls ever obliged 20 take corporal
\ correction Never TO my knowledge"
Are the same set of children punished
over and over againf" "They are"
Does not that fact argue against the
practical effects Of such punishment" 81
think not, T" said the principal
do boys laugh at it or lay il TO heart
Does it harden them into greater obduracy
or breed better behavior in themW Il
think the elect is salutary."
Have you ever heard of principal in
the public 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 overt" IL have not"
What would you think Of such a de
graded and degrading form Of correctional
deceiti Would you not despise the cheat
that pracriced itY" Il would. most certain.
ly." replied the principal
ETHICS or THBAsHING.
Is not fear in your judgment an ignoble
motive TO foster in a child AS a principle Of
action. add can any good and lasting bet
ueruess ever be produced by such methodist"
Fear Is ignoble" said Mr. Conklin, "and
50 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-
rhorized 10 do itYr ~ do"
"Suppose these same children were grown
up men and stil behaving just as badly,
would you strike themg' Certainly not. u
PRAY. why notYr Because thsy are old
enough to take care OF themselves" And
might thrash you beside, Mr. ConklinP
/ added But AS matter Of fact, they
are still behaving badly, with only this ex
ception. that they are, by ALI odds, behav
ing worse than they did when children by
as much a. age breeds accountability. You
dare not strike those same boys AS men
But you do dare TO strike them as little
soft boned baby boys. because they arr
helpless and in your power and cannot
. strike back Is not that the only real de
vefenseP II don't think so. replied tn,
emirincipal
o,,. do you justify or condemn such pun
.hmentf Il condemn il utterly"
" Now Mr.. Conklin. let me press you a.
Dligle principal Of this school little more
n il losely What distinctly. is the Furnishing
-. over conferred upon you as principal o
'eH dis schoolr 1T is discretionary with my
'heelfr
n DO you derive your right to punisl
children corporally from any law, and If s
what lawf" There is no law, ! think
Iutthat provides for such punishment by
ii school principal" said the principal
what, then. do you derive it from
Usancef" yes. simply from allowance.
Suppose a civil action was brough
! against you for assault by the parents o
guardians % child, what valid defens
could YOU iuterposeg THE courts hav
more than once sustained reasonable pun
ishrnarl r-hrra IN WIS clearly shown TO b