The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1901-09-05
CDR. STATEN VS.. SOLOMON"

CDR. STATEN VS.. SOLOMON"
Such was the heading Of an editorial
article in a recent issue of the News
and Observer, which quoted DR.. l.. l.. |
Staten, of Tarboro, in lecture before
the school committeeman in Edge
co,nbe county as follows:
at seems that in this day OF prog
ress and civilization no one should hes
itate to abolish, without further argu-
ment, that most cruel and barbarous
habit of whipping a disobedient child.
You will pardon me, then, for dwelling
one minute on it. The teacher who
resorts to fogging acknowledges bis
own weakness, tor when it comes to
matter of mere physical strength, the
s:hool-master is naturally the winner,
and few teachers there are who cannot
master a child temporarily by force.
The ill feelings engendered in the
pupil towards the teacher are never
quite forgiven or entirely overcome.
No child is absolutely without morals.
and it is to this side OF his nature that
the broad-minded teacher will appeal
rather than resort to physical con-
test. A humbled pride is far more
efficacious and more lasting In Its
effect. Should an obstinate pupil per-
s.st in his wlckedness let him under
stand that his influence is too contaml-
mating for him to remain among the
good ambitious scholars. Switches,
perhaps, grow too convenient to the
school house, and the good boys are
700 willing to bring them to teachers.
Wherever the fault lies, school COM
mitteeman cannot depounce whipping
too strongly, and ought not to feel sat
tisfied with the school till this mode
of punishment has been abolished
never to return"
The News and Observer commented
pointedly on DR.. Staten's position con-
corning corporal punishment and de-
clared that Solomon's "Spare the rcd
and spoil the child" maxim has been
regarded for several hundred years as
high proof of his wisdom.
DR.. Staten's views as expressed be-
fore the school committeeman of his
county have come somewhat promi-
nently into notice, and however many
there are who agree with him there
are, on the other hand, many who quite
as positively disagree.
There are many teachers of expert
ence who do not believe that the use
OF the rod In the school room some
times is altogether barbarous.
The editor of THE CoMMoNwEALra
was for time a teacher and he re-
members that on more than one occa-
sion he regarded it his honest duty to
use the rod as a. means of correcting
disobedient boys. And dozen and
more years after we do not agree with
DR.. Staten that "the i'll feelings engen-
dered in thu pupil towards the teacher
are meyer quite forgiven or entirely
overcome; for we confidently believe
that the very boys whom we fogged
then and have grown up into strong
manhood now are as fast and strong
friends as we have anywhere.
To be sure, there is pitch of mad
ness to which passionate teacher may
go in Furnishing disobedient pupil as
we'll as in anything else, and We re-
member to have made such obserya-
ton years ago when a school boy :;
but because one teacher can and does
sometimes over-step the limit of rea-
ion We need not conclude that it is
barbarous in every one to resort to the
rod as a means Of correction.
And IN passing We may say that we
are old fogyish enough to believe that
the sparing Of the rod outside of the
school room, even at home sometimes
has much to do in some cases with the