Strapping policy review

Press, 11 October 1986, Page 33

Strapping policy review

PA Auckland The Auckland Education Board will review its recently established policy supporting corporal punishment. A month ago the board quashed moves by two of its members to have the strap outlawed in primary and intermediate schools. The teachers’ representative, Mr Kelvin Bell, produced at the meeting a 33-page booklet supporting abolition of the practice. Board by-laws allow strapping in primary schools for boys and for girls under 10. Mr Bell said he was not asking board members to change their minds about the issues, but to go to

schools in their areas to assess present thinking. “This board needs to support teachers in their requests for in-service training for working without corporal punishment.” The board decided that

members would spend two months talking to teachers, pupils, parents and school committees about the issue before deciding at its December meeting whether to abolish the strap.