The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1902-06-04
EDUCATIONAL COLUMN.
Views of Some New England Superin.
tendents on Corporal Pun
ishment.

ny bub pIluClpdl vi HlBu 0CuOol III
New York and his subsequent arrest
has led to some discussion by leading
educators, of corporal punishment in
the schools. The method of the prin-
cipal aforesaid has been criticised be-
cause he used a piece of rubber hose
pipe, which was probably the first
thing he found handy at the time,
and which he laid on with such
zeal for the subduing of the unre-
generate youth that he left marks
that were apparent for some time if
they did not result in permanent in
jury TO the boy. His method is known
as the rubber pipe cure' and has
been used in some other schools
Some New England school superin-
tendents have been asked to give their
opinions on corporal punishment. a
portion of the statements received
are herewith given as taken from a
New York paper
" As for the Hudson method of pun
ishing with a rubber pipe, few had
ever heard of it, Scarcely a superin-
tendent was found who was ready to
sanction punishment upon any part of
the body except upon the hand and
most of them regard the Hudson Gus
tom as degrading "
The uperintendent of the Hudson
schools himself, J. G. Morrill,, admits
that punishment on the hand is pref
cradle, because it is more dignified "
Mr. Morrill, said "There has been
great deal of Misrepresentation
and exaggeratiOn concerning Hudson
schools l approve corporal punish
ment when applied with discretion,
and though punishment upon the
hand is preferable because more dig
nified, yet I think there are cases
where the good old fashioned way is
most effectual. 1t certainly seems to
me that the method now in use is
preferable to knocking a boy down. -
Sec Hill of the Massachusetts, State
board of education said - You ask
me if | approve of corporal punish
ment. l discourage it and, personally,
succeeded in refraining from its use -
]. w Mcdonald, one of the agents
of the Massachusetts state board said
II believe that teachers should have
the power to inflict it, but that il
should be resorted to only on very
rare occasions. All corporal punish,
ment is cruel Often, when it is real
lied that the power to infiict it rests
in the teachers discretion, the neces
sity for such infiiction is obviated
The dread of it is sufficient. But
consider that the infiction of blows
on any other part of the body thar
the hand is either dangerous or de
grading. Blows on the palm with
ferule can be inflicted without in
jury. The method of beating with ;
rubber pipe as you describe is degrad
ing -
State Supt W E. Ranger of Yer
mont said; "While the Vernon
State law does not forbid corpora
punishment in the schools, the regu
lations in some of the schools forbi
it. | believe it is not permissible i
the Burlington schools, for instance
1 hear of very few cases in Vernon
schools of the infection of corpora
punishment during the last few years
When resorted TO the blows have al
ways been struck upon the hand.
ferule is usually used We are yer
/ slow to punish girls In no case woul
! we infiict punishment anywhere els
than on the hand, and l should thin
that whipping boy after the mamie
in which you describe would tend
degrade him. -
Supt G.. H. Whitcher, Durham
: New market and Alton, N H, Gan
I, kind of corporal punishment is del
rading and brutal. never heard
!, the use of a rubber pipe. There a,
no rattans in any of my schools Al
yet, of course, there are cases whe
an appeal to force is absolutely nece
sary. | tell my teachers to get alol
without it just as long as possible b
l. when it becomes absolutely necessa
II then to go ahead and do a good jo
!. AS for the method you speak of
shouldn't approve of it. While PHI
,. siologically it may be the best, the
l. is something of more Importance TIN
IA that to be considered. The boy
# punished would lose his self respet
>. He would no longer be young Anne
HI lea
Supt. A. L. Stafford, Beverly: 8"
a one of the speakers said today, 1t
better to blister the soul with sarca'
than blister the sole with the bI
tinado, There is law against CO
4 poral punishment in the schools
4 France and l think public sentime
might favor such law here "
E Applause is the tonic of succe
y When fellow makes a hit let h