Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-02-17
Discipline in the Schools.

The Argus is glad to know that the
justice court proceedings growing out
Of an unfortunate circumstance at the
high school have been Withdrawn.
While what savors of hazing or rough
handling among the attendants at any
school is to be deprecated and must
not be allowed, yet it is equally to be
regretted that there should have been
any provocation for resort to arrests
in connection with disturbances or
disorder at the high school. In no
sense condoning the acts of the boys
who have permitted themselves to go
too far in what at the outset was no
doubt regarded as harmless pranks,
the entire question, as The Argus
sees it, is one of discipline in the
schools.
And discipline is a science.
There is an age in the life Of the
average boy when he becomes mis-
chief-bent 1t is not a sign of degen-
eracy or of evil intent or disposition.
1t is not a sign of hoodlumism. 1t is
.recklessness. to be sure, and reckless
ness that must beSrestrained and con-
trolled for the good of the boy, for the
good of the-schools and for the good
of the boys parents. And right here
is where the force of discipline comes
in.
And discipline belongs to the school
authorities.
1t is part of the duties of the school
master. He must know how to han
die just such cases as have developed
NJ h. lei oil
handle them opportunity. Nhe Rock
Island high school is no different from
any other high school. The boys who
go there are no worse than those who
attend high schools in other cities. ,
And they perhaps are no better The
boys who participated in the hate es-
capade at the Rock Island high school
come from the best families in Rock
Island. They are not neglected boys. /
They are not bad boys. But they have /
done wrong. They have been guilty /
Of repTehensible and intolerabie acts
and they deserve punishment. They
deserve to be taught that such con
duct. or rather such misconduct nler-
its rebuke. That is the desire Of good
of which they win before
desire of their parents and that is the /
aim of the public schools.
And that is the part of the public /
school course to perform.
Therefore it impresses The Argus /
that the entire question is one that
belongs to the school authorities. 1t
belongs 10 those who are in touch
with the youth in his school training. I.
II should never have been permitted /
to reach the point where there was
any occasion for swearing out war
rants. II should not be necessary for /
the board Of education TO pass upon it.
Once in a while there is apt to de- |
velop in any educational institution .
an aggravated case with which the au-
thorities are incapable Of coping, and I.
where the most drastic measures are
essential to the good government of .
the school. But there has not been /
an instance of this kind in Rock Is
land yet and there is no reason 10 APP
prehend that there Will be.
The question here is one of the sci
ence of discipline and the command
ing respect of discipline, entirely.
The boys involved in the late occur
ence are at the crucial stage of
their lives. at the making point. where
they are to begin TO take on the more
serious view OF what the world means.
II is hoped that the lesson which has
occurred has among other things been
impressed upon them and that out OF
he fracas will come TO them a little
more serious view of their obligations,
who are interested in them. and final
y the school authorities may gain the
advantage of proper discipline in the
restoration OF good order