The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1913-01-12
Not a Lick AmiSS.'

Not Lick Amiss.'
An answer to this query would De
appreciated:
Who is it that suggested or ad-
yised the School Board oPLaddo
Parish TO favor and to endorse cor
coral punishment in the pubhe
schools?
Corporal punishment is relic OF
barbarism and is being supplanted
and superseded by the more gentle
treatment, the persuasion that ap-
peals to the heart.
This method is being gradually
adopted in reformatories, in prisons
and in penitentiaries, the exceptions
being in the camps of the conVlcts
who are leased to sOulless corpora
tions.
II is Surprising that in this en-
lightened Gentry, when love ana
kindness. love and not fear, is grad
ually ascending over coercion ana
bruteSity. that the School Board OF
Caddo Parish should have favored
the castigation of pupils.
In the several press comments IN
criticism of this action OF the SchoOi
Board. in reverting to the days OF
our erandfathers, it is explained,
somewhat in apology, that when
they were whipped not lick was
amiss.
This declaration is an eXagSera-
ton. From our experience When a
bow at school, we would say that we
received many lickings unfairly, I'M
Justly and mercilessly, especially
when the teahcer was cross or Ill
tempered or had been nagged by
some of his or her pets.
Excepting the teachers pets some
of the boys were licked with regu-
iarity. some more often than others,
and for the most triflipg infractlon
sof discipline. Z H4&;1 sF'f
A-These lick;ings had little effect on
the "bad boys" most Of whom have
grown to be good citizens and fath-
ers of families, and it is these VINO
from the experience of their school
DAYS protest against the School
Boards endorsement of corporal
punishment in the schools.
From our past experience we re-
call the teacher licking the small
boys, not their pets, but rarely, the
boy who was big enough to lick the
teacher.
It is conceded that the task OF the
teacher is exacting and trying; that
the teachers patience is frequently
wrought on edge, but the teacher
should never forget that patience IS
a virtue and that he that controls
his temper is greater than he that
conquers city, or words to that Ell
feet.
In Switzerland, and this republic
is cited deliberately for the reason
that its government is. a model for
emulation in all its departments, es-
pecially its school system, there is
no corporal punishment for the
discipline in its schools.
The teacher is engaged for life,
following a thorough test of fitness.
= There is no military or semi
military discipline, no lining up nor
marching, but there is cultivated in
stead a personal relationship be-
tween the teachers and the pupils.
which is promotive of respect, OF
obedience and of affection. Instead
of the switch or the ferrule, the
spirit of kindness governs and has
a greater, a more potent influence
for good over the bad boys" or the
"upruly boys" so-called, than cor
poral punishment.
We would again query: Who was
it that suggested or advised the
School Board to favor and to en-
dorse corporal punishment in the
public schools, and why?
The School Board should recon-
slider their action, relic of barbar-
ism, which should be substituted
for the system which prevails most
satisfactorily and beneficently in the
land of William Tell.
n. NEWS AND NOTES.