The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1912-12-16
sn,:roWAL PUNISHMENT.

N~,f"sso" Mcckcr. of Princeton.
rcaN ,Npe,, tn hc told that he is a
'ru., and Il back number. for he has
said ,it.h, out that he is opposed To
II" ic."ai abolition If corporal punish
rl'Mt N the schools. 1In believes that
Ian forhidGing teachers TO admins
'"r ,orrora' punishment are unwisc.
amd he elm hes :hv Who'll" statement
by Sing that a person who cannot
hc ~o,,rustcd With authority tn admin.
'~'"r Nuch punishment is not 1T to have
charge of tha teaching OF children.
There has hc"N a good deal Of dis
clssjun Of tho suhiec, IF corporal
punishment in recon-: wears. and some
laws have hccn passed prohibiting
whipping in the schools. There is AZ
least a lack of evidence to show that
such, laws have resulted in any good
whatever. In som" cases they must
Inevitably work harm. AS is usual In
such discussions extreme statements
have been made. and unsourd aYEu.
meDfs have been based on them. Some
"f the advocates "f tho legal prohihi.
tion of whipping have assumed that
those who wish teachers to retain
authority to Use il were In favor Of the
teacher maultng tho children with n
club. No sane person ~advocates tho
brutal treatment of children. Whip.
ping. crco the rule In the schools. has
almost disappeared from them, and
NO, by virtue Of legal enactment, but
in response to he growth OF more
humane and intelligent sentiments
thai once prevailed.
Somewhere. however, there must be
authority. We may dismiss az the
vories' hosh the theory that the child
must bc permitted TO do as he pleases
AT all times. this theory being based
"n tho assumption that II the child Is
given Il chance ne Will please 10 do
the things that arc right and best. This
is simply not 90. The child needs "a
I've guided. controlled. and at times
compelled. for his w good n the
GOOD of society. The parent has the
right to chastise. Few parents need
to chastise often. When the child
knows that a spanking is possible.
and that II Will surely and quickly
follow the commission Of a given o.
fcns", that knowledge is OF immense
value in strengthening the resistance
10 formation, and the mere rossihil.
ity OF a ehastisement often prevents
it's needs. Deprive the parent OF the
RICH, to ehastise and the child would
soon learn that he might rebel with
impuni.y. and ne would proceed to d
50,
Tho teacher stands. for the time
when children arc committed to the
car" OF tho schools. in the relation Of
u Parent to the child i all natter
pertaining to the government Of his
behavior. II all parents could Be Dc.
pended on 10 support the authority Of
the teacher, and tn administer proper
punishment when punishment is need.
cd there would I've less to say for the
retention OF the right 4 chAstise. Blu,
even then there would be the lore or
tho child's part Of the very b~anehcia,
knowledge that certain acts will as
suredly produce certain definite ant
quite painful results. and will produc,
them Immediately. without the formal,
ity Of a family council or any red tan,
VI any kind. The child who know,
that impudent defiance Of a teacher
Will almost before tho completion q
the act. he followed by q hriak spank
ing is likely TO curb any Tendencies
in the direction ef tmpudenee than
II were the custom to look after thes
matters about the day after tomorrow
Pro1esser Meeker 10 right. The poten