Evening star., 1936-10-02
Discipline.
In School
Often Hard
Teacher Has Right to
Defend Self Against
Abuse.
BY ANGELO PATRI.

"CHE slapped my son in the face"
~ why did she do that, I WON
der?"
well, of course, I know he oughtn't
TO have done it, but just the same it is
against the law for a teacher to slap
q child in the face, and want her to
know that she can't do that and get
away with it. won't allow my child
to be slapped by any teacher. I'm
Q taxpayer and know my rights"
"Why did the teacher slap him?"
II know he oughtn't to have done
It. But two wrongs don't make a
right, and the teacher should know
better than to slap child in the face.
Teachers are supposed to know more
than children. Right is right"
But what did the boy do that made
the teacher slap him?"
"She says he spat in her face"
Ibid he?"
"Well, of course, I don't give him
right. He should not do that to a
teacher. I don't bring him up that
way
Your son spat in his teachers
face? And you complain because she
slapped him? What do you do when
he spits in your face?"
He wouldn't dare to do such q
thing. I'm his mother"
You wouldn't stand for his spit
ting in your face?"
Il should say not. I'd teach him
TO respect his mother. He would not
do such a thing anyway" -..
well, no teacher will stand for
It, either. We don't believe in cor
poral punishment; wo do not whip
children in our schools. But we don't
let ill-bred children spit in our faces
either. The teacher has the same
rights any other human being has
and the right to protect himself in
those rights. You'd better take your
boy home and teach him that spit
ting is not allowed. 1t is out. If he
tries it he is likely to get slapped"
No right thinking teacher believes
in striking, beating. whipping chill
dren to maintain discipline. No good
school is managed by force. ANY
teacher will say that 1t is better to
control ones temper and keep ones
patience under stress, but teachers are
people and few people are willing to
stand as a target for abuse that ILL
hammered and ill-trained children
may subject them to. Self-defense
Is an inherent right that is not to be
lightly waived. No teacher is willing
to waive it. Nor should he be asked
to do so. There is nothing in a
teachers contract, explicit or implied,
that would demand that sacrifice Of
human dignity. '@
have seen little children, sturdy
young rufians. kicking their mothers,
because they would not let them run
loose on the streets. have seen little
ones throwing whatever came handiest
at their mothers and fathers who
murmured gently, Now, now you
mustn't do that" 1t is wrong to allow
a little one to use physical force
against his guardians, teachers, nurses,
grown-up people generally, who have
to deal with them. They get wrong
A1OtlOlIo d1C SOllls w SCI tltCiu-
selves heartily disliked. They are
going to pay a high price for their
feeling of power. Some day they will
meet with the person who feels him
self outraged and retaliates in kind.
BY and by they find themselves iso-
lated, Stunned as unfit for ordinary
associations. Too late they find their
style Of behavior does not pay.
Mr.. Patri has prepared a leaflet,
entitled Spelling" in which he tells
parents how to successfully help chill
dren with their spelling lessons Send
for it, addressing your request to Mr..
Angelo Patri, Child Psychology De-
partment of this paper, and inclose
q addressed, stamped (3-cent)
envelope.
(Copyright 1936)