The Kalispell bee. [volume] (Kalispell, Mont.) 1900-192?, 1900-06-19
AS TO PUNISHMENT.
State Supt. Carleton Announces What
Should he Done In that Line. -

State supt. Carleton Announces What
Should he Done In that Line.
Replying to principal of public
school who asked for information as to
what constituted illegal corporal punish
ment of pupil, State Superintendent of
Public Instruction Carleton deprecates
corporal punishment in the public schools
of the state. He says that the old adage
of Spare the rod and spoil the child"
has given away to more intelligent and
humane treatment.
The state superintendent in the course
of his reply to the inquiry quotes the
law on the subject of corporal punish
ment, section 1874 of the political code,
giving the teacher power to suspend
pupils from school for good and sufficient
cause; Section TAG, making it INSIDE
meanor for teacher to abuse pupil
and section 1870 outlining what consti-
tutes ground for suspension of the pupil
and then says:
"These sections of the law seem to
apply that very bad pupils are to be ex-
PEELED rather than that an attempt
should be made to bring them into sub
lection by severe or heroic treatment.
Just what would constitute undue or
severe punishment, within the meaning of
the statute, is difficult to define. No
definition can be given that would apply
to every case. The offense of the pupil,
his age, health and temperament, the in
strument of punishment used, the num-
Der of the blows struck by the teacher,
the part of the body struck, are all ele-
ments that would have to be considered.
Perhaps as good rule as any is to use
only such punishment as kind and
prudent parent would use under similar
circumstances.
II know of no decision that holds that
the 'welts must remain upon the body
for fixed period of time trust that
no American court ever rendered SO bar
barous decision.
1.-THE old adage, spare the rod and spoil
the child like many another, has given
way to a more intelligent and humane
treatment of children. Not that the law
or the interests of the child demand the
adjustment of corporal punishment. but
the wisest and best teachers of our youth
today, including the best parents, very
rarely, if ever, resort to it. Children
must be taught obedience, and respect
for authority, but the rod seldom points
the way. 1t is almost relic of barbar-
ism. The most successful teachers are
those who seldom, if ever, use it.
mo physical effects should be found
after the punishment is inflicted. But
the punishment may be both undue and
severe and still no 'welts' or other physi-
cal evidences be discoverable.
GAS said before, all the circumstances
of each particular case must be consid-
cred in determining whether the punish
ment was undue or severe within the
meaning of the law. The teacher has
the legal right to punish pupil for
offenses committed, and the parent has
no right legal or moral, to interfere, SO
long as the punishment is proper.
Neither have parents any right to dictate
the form of punishment. That is entire
ly left to the teacher. During the time
the child is in school the parents are
Invested of their control over him. The
teacher for such period stands in loco
PARENTS, and has the same authority
over him, subjected to the law quoted,
that his parents have, This authority
gives the teacher the right to correct
and punish the pupil, if necessary.
II suggest that you consider the wis
dom of exercising the authority conferred
by sections 1874 and 1870 regarding
Expulsion, if the pupils in question are
wilfully disobedient, and cannot be con-
trolled except by such severe punishment
that produces 'welts on their bodies"
"All such pupils should be expelled
from the schools. They have forfeited
all their rights there; they jeopardize
the rights of the other pupils and are a
menace to the school. We have public
institutions for such pupils, but the pub
lie school is not one of them
Had you informed me as to the par
ticular circumstances of this case, /
could then have answered your ques-
tons more definitely. trust, however
that the foregoing will prove of help to
you and your teachers in dealing with
extremely bad pupils. l fully believe
that you will find kindness greater
conservator of good order than the rod. ;
NOME is OvERCROWDED.