The Washington herald., 1909-03-15
School Punishment.
- u Washinslon IL: :

Editor The Washington Herald
our dear. darling boys must not be
touched with a whip or ruler. but pun
ished with a very slight agitation Of the
tongue by the teacher. What is the re-
sult2 A perfect lack Of discipline both at
school and abroad. The old boys used
20 say: Seeding don't hurt me. licking
don't last long. and kill me you dasn't."
Now the cunning. tricky lad is very
gently sent up to the principal for cor
rection, and when he returns to his seat
he chuckles TO think how foolish the
principal was in supposing that he would
weigh in his mind one word Of counsel
which ne gave I was once In the prin-
Cipals room in one OF the chief schools
outside OF New York city, when a lad
about sixteen came into the presence Of
the principal for discipline. His father was
editor Of one Of the leading papers Of the
city and the young man was as meek
before me as any human being could
be. What do YOU think of this young
man, Mr.. Copeland? He is one OF the
boys called smart. but We understand
what that means" I looked al him and
said rs IL possible that one Of your
age and appearance should be sent up
here TO be corrected" In other DAYS
that smart youth would have been pun
ished so very thoroughly and properly
that the principal would not have said
Il do not know what TO do with one OF
his age and position i'm life" The whole
system Of discipline OF the present day
Is rotten at the very core BY abolishing
corporal punishment in the schools the
scholars have lost all respect for their
teachers. and at home call them any
name they please. and tattIe about all
the actions Of the teacher when trying
20 make them behave They laugh
hourly al the teacher. and every time
the back is turned carry on their foxy
tricks, and when the teacher IS looking
are as grave as if they were at a funeral
Are the dear lads any better to-day
than fifty years ago. Mo- Did any re-
spectacle boy then call his father the old
man or the governor, and his dear mother
the old woman or some other name Of
reprOach2 Only the very lowest did this
Did boys smoke cigarettes at ten years
Of age and curse in their Ordi-
nary conversation when away from
home? Did boys Of good parents
loaf around pool and billiard rooms. sa-
looms, and street corners. and only use
home as a place in which 70 eat and
sleep? Who IN the library on Saturday or
after school hours sees the scholars Of our
schools with Homer, Dante, Shakespeare
or Bancroft before them2 If they read
at all. il is only trash unworthy Of notice
Now and then we do see a girl from the
high school looking up some information,
but such cases are rare and specially
noted. Who IS 70 blame for such a sad
condition Of affairs in the Capital City
OF this great natiOn2
Let the unseen answer, Solomon SAYS.
'He that Spareth his rod hateth his son;
but he that loveth him chasteneth
him betimes." Is this true, OF is this
false? Children have no respect for any
teacher or parent unless that master
makes them obey; not when they get
ready but now, this moment, and IL they
do not, then punishment should be given
not with an idle breath or some harsh OF
foolish language, but with a good switch
around the bare legs. or a ruler, upon
the bare hands
No beating with a club over the head.
TO striking with the hand in the face;
al this IS base and british. Many schol-
ars could be punished on block OF wood
out by the teachers desk as a Ounce
block" others deprived OF recess, or re-
Quired 20 stay after school hours. or
placed by themselves as a matter Of
shame.
When the teachers. and parents en-
force proper discipline, then we shall hear
no lad saying. "Oh. he is crazyr' Never
mind that old fool" Hello. old man.
See that old womanr' There can be
no love without respect, and we are rap
idly drifting away from the blessed Jesus
who taught us to love one another. The
chief parents Of this city should weekly
visit the public schools and see for them
selves what rules OF order and discipline
are carried out. Do not trust the lads