CANE—OR NOT?

Auckland Star, 4 September 1939, Page 3

CANE—OR NOT?

SCHOOL DISCIPLINE.

elimination questioned.

USE OF LEISURE TIME.

Whether the elimination of corporal punishment in some schools whs in the lK'st interests of children was a point raised by Mr. W. H. Fortune, president of the Dominion Federation of School Committees' Associations of N'ew Zealand. in his presi<lential address to delegates at the sixth annual national conference to-day. 'lreijuent reference is made in the Press by magistrates and others in a position to know the facts concerning youthful delinquency." said Mr. Fortune. "One wonders if our primary schools system in any wav contributes to such a state of affairs."

"One does not wish to return to the days when corporal punishment was the rule and not the exception, lint one wonders if its total abolit ion in some schools when classes "e larger than the\ should lie is fair 11 the teachers concerned, and whether it !• really conducive to the best of training."'

He added that homework in the pi iniary schools had been practically abolished, and. while not wi-hinir to revert tu the ■■cramming" days, it was doubt fill whether the leisure time was • cully spent to ■ n or whether it was spent in V < -niu- to some damradio programme or watchinjr n picture programme just as devastating in its effects. Self-discipline was essential to correct living.