N.Z.E.I. defers strap decision

Press, 16 May 1985, Page 1

N.Z.E.I. defers strap decision

PA Wellington Primary teachers have adopted as their goal the abolition of corporal punishment.

However, representatives at the New Zealand Educational Institute’s annual meeting decided in a long debate yesterday that teachers needed time to develop alternative forms of discipline before corporal punishment was removed completely from schools. A call to oppose all forms of corporal punishment immediately, made by the Wellington branch, was defeated for that reason.

Primary teachers are permitted to strap all children up to the age of 10, and boys over the age of 10. The last time the N.Z.E.I. developed a stance on corporal punishment was in the 19605, when it decided not to

oppose its use while there were no satisfactory alternatives. The decision to work towards its abolition aligns the N.Z.E.I. with the Minister of Education, Mr Marshall, who wants to see the practice gone from schools before he leaves office.

Mr Marshall said this week that while he had no immediate plans to outlaw corporal punishment, eventually he might have to “think carefully” about abolishing it by Ministerial decree.

A recent Heyien poll showed that 80 per cent of New Zealanders favoured the retention of corporal punishment, at least as a last-resort measure.

However, several conference members said that teachers had a responsibility to work to change public attitudes by setting an example themselves.