The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-05-12
NO HALFWAY COURSE.

The case of Principal Mccoy of the
Oquirrh school is attracting consider
able attention, not only from the pat
fons of that district, but from those of
every other district in the city. The
principal is accused of infiicting cor
poral punishment upon a refractory
pupil, a 14-year-old boy, whose mother
says the punishment was unduly Sc
we're. This the principal denies, and the
fact that the boy was able to ride a
horse Immediately after he was whip
ped, and attend an entertainment in
day or two. corroborates that denial.
Most people who have been reared
under the old regime, where spare the
rod, spoil the child" was orthodox doc
trine, will doubt the brutality of
whaling that leaves a boy in a mood to
enjoy himself in public.
From the expressions of opinion by
individual members of the board, and
from the attitude of the committee
which first took the matter up, as we'll
as from the temper of the meeting
Wednesday evening, it appears that a
few members of the board favor Nc
Coy's retention in his present position,
a few want him discharged, and a ma
jority would like to compromise the
matter by transferring him to some
other school in the city.
1t seems that the first thing for the
board of education TO decide is whether
or not corporal punishment in the city
schools should be abolished. If it is to
should be published or posted up in
every schoolroom within the jurisdic-
ton of the board. If its continuance be
favored the only way to make it effect
i've is to leave the infiiction of the PEN
atty to the judgment of the principal or
teacher. When this Judgment is known
to be bad. and the efficiency of the
school is jeopardized, then it is clearly
the duty of the board to relieve the
school and schools of such teacher or
principal.
So far as the public is able to judge
from the facts laid before it. Principal
Mccoy should he retained in his posi-
ton. There can be no doubt as to the
sentiment of the teachers. the pupils
and the overwhelming majority of the
parents who know Mr.. Mccoy, and
nave watched his work. His school has
long been model of efficiency. and his
record testifies TO his ability. The de-
votion of the Oquirrh pupils on the
face of it disDroves the assertion of
indictments that he has been arbitrary
or brutal in his treatment of the chill
dren in his charge.
In the case in controversy, Principal
Mccoy either did his duty or he did
an inhuman act. He is either right or
wrong. If he was justified in punish
ing the boy. and if such punishment
did not break his bones or cut his skin
or infict unnecessary or permanent in !
jury. the principal ought to be upheld
by the board, and hundred threat
cned lawsuits should not swerve it a
hairs breadth.
If. however the board would rather
believe the boy than the principal. and
It concludes that Mr.. Mccoy cannot be
entrusted to the disciplining of pupils
over whom he is placed for that pur-
pose. in part, then he ought to be let |
out entirely. All this talk about |
transferring him to another school is |
nonsense. If he isn't fit to remain in |
the Oquirrh school that he has built |
up and where the patrons know him I
and the pupils are used TO him, he /
shouldn't be sent TO another school in /
the city. where the cause of his transfer /
win be the reputation that precedes
him. and where the mothers are just as
Jealous and particular as they are in
the Oquirrh district.
Besides. there is more at stake in /
this case than the position Of one man.
II involves the whole principle of obe-
dience in the schools. The Herald be-
iieves the public generally will join in
urging that Mr.. Mccoy be retained at
the head of the Oquirrh school.
There is no halfway course to be
taken.