The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-10-29

The letter written by c. E. A and
printed in the Corner has greatly inter-
ested me. and should like 20 voice my
views on the subject I most Cccidedly
indorse the old fashioned method Of
Furnishing disobedient or eunruly chill
dren, and am mother of Ave precious
ones. My dear parents used the strap
or whip on me as we'll as on my six
brothers and sisters. and do not think
there is one of US today who thinks he
or she was unfairly dealt with by our
parents. For my part. my childhood
days are not in such a remote past that
my memory fails to recall Just how nee
essary little strap oil,' as my dear
daddy used to say. was In my bringing
Up. and If there was ever any Ill feeling
toward my parents 1t was only tempo
rary.
Like c. e. A, too think 1t a shame
that this good old fashioned punishment
should not continue In the rearing of our
young. 1t Is true that great many
parents mete out this sort of punish
nent only In anger, and of this any sane
person would heartily disapprove. From
remarks made by my children, after one
OF them had received q sound spanking,
I was brought face to face with the
fact that it just makes me 'shamed Of
myself to have to be whipped
Every one who comes in contact with
my children notices that they are Lore
dependable than tho majority. and al
though l do not say is entirely due to
the use of the rod, do claim that it
holds a valuable place in our household.
MRS. e. B. M"
Another letter takes much the same
limo Of thought, although expressing It
differently:
Your correspondents letter and your
comment on the same are most interest
ing to all persons who must have e
hand in the training Of the young. I
believe that have had as much expert
ence as the average person with chill
dren. During twelve years as a teacher
I made a caraful study of psychology
and child nature while trying to select
the best forms of punishment to be eff
fective in enforcing obedience and indus
try. I now have four children Of my
own. and feel that they should not all
receive the same kind of punishment
and that the same child cannot right
fully be punished at all times or for all
offenses by the same punishment. l
do not believe In trying to reason with
n child after the second oftense of the
same nature, but do believe that I'M
less some milder form of punishment is
entirely effective the spanking should
be administered freely enough to en-
force respect for authority.
feel sure that tho right to spank
should not be denied the teacher, be-
cause my experience taught me beyond
doubt that some children never need
correction h they know g. spanking is
coming. but would be beyond control by
any other means.
:" 1t is to be regretted that we have
no way of determining what per cent OF
crime and miserable poverty is the di-
rect result of home training. I do not
believe that the child who has its own
will for its guide has anything like an
equal chance for moral and intellectual
development with the child that Is
reared under proper discipline in the
home. w, It. D."
Another teacher advances her views:
=" would Like to say a. few words on
spanking from music teachers view.
When a mother gives me her child to
teach. during that period tho child 10
mine, to correct in bad habits az we'll
as in music. That Is my duty as a con-
scientious teacher. The mother Of Soma
child may say. A teacher shall never
whip child Of mine But If your child