CORPORAL PUNISHMENT.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 44, 21 February 1940, Page 6

CORPORAL PUNISHMENT.

It makes one sick to read the letters of those, opposed to corporal puniduacßt in schools. In my school day* -we stood up to it, regarding it ae the inevitable result of our wrong-doing. When we got it few of ns ran home ag the mollycoddles of to-day do—to show our wounds to dad. The risk of getting caned for getting caned wae too great. And punishments at home were generally much more severe than at school The misdeeds of schoolboys have not altered since Adam's grandfather was in tin second standard, and competent teacher* have punishment* for them just about standardised and can deal with then quite well by summary jurisdictien. Think of the convicted delinquent with an unknown sentence hanging over hi* head for twenty-four hours, while the "frowning judge** "site in chambers" looking into the case in a. "to cane or not to cane"" state of mind, like the vacillating Prince of Denmark. The judicious use of the cane by experienced teachers is more beneficial than harm-" ful, and is frequently neceesary for the maintenance of good discipline. While discussing the matter with a Grammar. School boy recently, he said, '""Air. BL* if the teacher did not cane us we'd play. up." Could anything more pithily be said on the subject? It may he pertinent to ask: Have the molly -coddling and lack of dwvipline in the homes to-day any relation to the prevalence of youthflit crime referred to by the Chief Justice at the opening of the present session of the Supreme Court! J.W.H-