The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-06-29
CORPORAL PUNISHMENT
IN SCHOOL.

Editor Morning News: Writing edi-
torlaliy upon this topic you refer to
'he agitation now going on in the city
OF New York, caused by "A number of
teachers who have started a movement
to restore corporal punishment to the
public school system of that city" In
1854 there were reported 100000 whip
pings In the schools Of that city. Public
attention being called to the preva>
fence of the resort to the use of the
roo, the Board of Education caused q
report TO be made of the number &C.
curing in each class, with the result
that IN 1868 the grand total was SAP,
and in 1870 it was finally abolished.
The difficulties in the way of sue
cesstul conduct of the schools seem to
be greater in the large cities than in
the rural districts. The great difficulty
to be overcome is the matter of tru-
ancy, which is an increasing evil, and
the remedy is not plainly in sight
There seems to be no great amount of
INSTRUMENTATION, but there is conspicu-
GUS failure of parents to cooperate in
the maintenance of discipline 1t
will be observed by students of the
oOOJCNS AlldN the comes
the outside when the matter of aboH-
ton of the rod is under discussion; the
teacher, or many of them, yield with
more or less of reluctance TO the pop
ular sentiment.
Few persons seriously contemplate a
restoration of the teachers prerogative
after a generation of disuse, but there
is pressing call for some rational
method of dealing with that small, but
troublesome contigent which will not
comply with reasonable practice. but
who run away from school to the det-
riment of themselves and others. If
a boy runs away from a school where
there is no whipping, will he be likely
to return when a whipping awaits him?
There is much that makes for the
contention for the quick and easy
method of dealing with delinquents,
and the rod advocates will be long in
the field. one reason being that the
bad boy is ever with us; the girl seems
to have learned wisdom's ways. but
the boy is the yet unsolved problem;
we fail to deal. effectively with him,
possibly for the reason that we have
not vet learned wise treatment OF
those who as adults become insubordi-
nate.
The truant school, with enlarged
power of the teachers experimenting
the lacking aid of the parent, seems
the obvious way Meanwhile it is
we'll to study the effect upon a commu-
nifty of the Punishment of force and
the substitution of persuasion and in
ducement on the part of teachers.
There is abundant evidence to show
that it's working has been beneficial In
the school and that its influence has
extended to the family.
No community in which these forces
have been in working is likely to toll
crate any looking back in the matter
of control Of pupils; the loss in moral
fiber would be too great.
The tough boy who is made the
peg upon which to hang our many
theories is frequently the victim of
unwise teaching. He has a vast store
of energy which needs only to be
wisely directed in order to make him
a blessing, instead of as now, real
nuisance.
One of the teachers in New YORK
who advocates "a modified use OF the
rod" gives his illustration thus.
quote from memory: "One rotten APP
ple will spoil a barrel full" Here 1t
would seem that he has furnished
with the difficulty the obvious rem
sdv. The careful housekeeper re-
moves the one copupting influence
and so finds easy work with the re-
mainder; the restoration OF scnool
whippings would place a stigma upon
the entire community, for 1t Woulo
be a confession that there had Deeh
failure in the effort to uplift ana pen
eft the schools.
Rut there is little prospect of such
and wiser cOllD-
sell will prevail and we shaH nave
crown wiser by reason of the Ventll-
ating of the inner working OF the
schools. .,,,. odi-
+oriaI now under examination is evil
dence that your community mas Hldue
distinct advances in the treatment Oh
children. both in the home and IN the
school. -. ~, ,ronor-
+ant change will be made IN tne
engagement of the New York schools
havond the establishment OF an n ,
creased number of "truant schoois
With mower on the part OF the au-
thorities to act in the place ol tlle
,1arent where there is neglect 10 CO
Pnta With a. view to make attend
ance compulsory. No system 10 ~.
CO. aar .4,e unite perfect, but there mas
G been great progress made in the dif I.
fusion of instruction. and lllitera ,oa e
Incoming less than in former Sea ~ -
and it will in good time reach '"'
vanishing point ,d narant
-, and profita BILE employment IN en-
i Ina,,or 70 comprehend the heart u
nc child. leading him in WISDOM m, >
.,,ovs 'i rather than driving him in the
other direction. ,.,o,, povd