The Greeneville daily sun. (Greeneville, Tenn.) 1918-1920, 1919-10-18
THERE is NO GOOD ARGUMENT IN FAVOR
OF WHIPPING CHILD.

The letter prompted by editorial which appeared
short time ago in which the whipping of children was
pointed out being cowardly and brutal the attacl
of the powerful on the weak.
The writer of the letter asks that his signature be
used request which does not lessen the interest of
portance of his communication, which is as follows:
Some time ago editorial appeared in your
paper condemning the whipping of children in an
effort to exact obedience and for the purpose of
correction.
1t was a great editorial and for one agreed
with every word of it-then.
Recently, however, l have been confronted with
the breaking down of all my carefully planned and
executed theories of child training.
! have three chidren--two boys Twins four and
half years. and daughter two and half years.
None of them ever whipped until few days
ago, when administered spanking to one Of the
twins.
He has delighted in gouging out pieces of the wall
in the nursery Suggestive correction, reasonable
explanations why he should not do ths,and with
drawal of privileges tried repeatedy-but to
effect. Heretofore, with other habits needing
correction, such methods have proven effective.
Finally rewards were promised, and this scheme
worked for while. The marring of the wall, how
ever, did not stop for long.
After particularly big slice was hewn from the
wall Several days ago., gave the boy spanking
his first He shuns all walls and apparently has
not changed his attitude of comradeship with his
Daddy.
This thing has worried me more than | can ex-
press, but the whipping in this has put end
to wilful destruction.
know you will be interested and perhaps suggest
the method that would have made the spanking en-
tirely unnecessary. PBJ
The whipping of child is essentially brutal in that
is the opposing of two markedly unequal forces No rea
man approves of putting the strong against the weak
In every other walk of life except the treatment Of
children, insist upon reasonable likeness of abit,
between contestants, whether it be in physical or
mental competition
The grown who strikes a child or who treats {
child mental grown-up is taking advantage Of h
greater bulk and strength his fully developed
reasoning powers.
What happens when you strike child?
Of course, the flesh which you strike suffers neither
pain nor pleasure at any time Enjoyment and suffering
purely mental functions
1t is in his BRAIN transmitted there by the nerves. that
the child feels the blow and the accompanying pain
1t is certain fact that there is sensation conveyed
to the brain that does not cause an intelligent mental
process.
If the sensation is pleasant the thought is one Of
greater or less joy, or appreciation or approval
If the sensation is unpleasant the thought is of sor
row or disapproval regret and from those thoughts
there naturally springs intention to correct or in the
case of real fanced injury, to revenge and revenge
is always accompanied by hatred
The expression of that hatred and the gaining Of that
revenge may be hndered prevented by fear but the
fear does not eliminate the desire.
1t is certain that NO CHILD EVER RECEIVED A
BLOW WHO DID NOT THEN AND THERE HAVE A
SENSE OF RESENTMENT, a feeling of childish hatred
1t necessarily physically succumb to the greater power
but its little brain becomes the storing place of hostility
It it was able it would give expression to its thought in
physical force.
The reason It sometimes obeys after punishment is that
It's subsequent acts are controlled by FEAR And fear
was never source of strength to either child or man
Fear is responsible for more suffering more disease
more failure than any other influence in life. It is
bad thing to plant in a childs brain 1t is mental
weed that will drive out many useful and desirable
thought
PATIENCE is great deal better than PUNISHMENT
There may be- once in great WHILE child so men.
tally abnormal that patience is exerted to no effect But
most children, ninetynne out of hundred are Just as