CORPORAL PUNISHMENT.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 308, 22 September 1908, Page 4

CORPORAL PUNISHMENT.

A SCHOOLMASTER FINED. .(nr TELECRAI-n—I'RESS ASSOCIATION.) Auckland, September 21. Mr. H. W. Northeroft, S.M. ; delivered judgment at Onchunga to-day 111 the caso in which William Nepean M'lntosh, headmaster of tho Onehunga public school, was charged with having assaulted a. twelve-year-old pupil, John Cuthbert Leathart, by caning him. Tho judgment reviewed the voluminous evidence, and proceeding said thero was no question that a master had a right to inflict punishmont in our schools. This had been so decided in the case of Hansen v. Cole, and many American cases. It was tlio imperative duty of a master to require good order and discipline.. To enable him to do this he must necessarily havo tho power to enforce obedienco to liis commands, and for this purpose tho law had given him a power to inflict corporal punishment; Liko tlio punishment of tho Stato, school jninishment was threefold in l its object: the reformation of the pupil, tho enforcement of correct discipline, and an example to evildoers. "I havo to consider,": continued his Worship, "was the punishment reasonable and for a sufficient cause? I am of opinion that tho punishment was excessivo, and not for a sufficient cause. There will be a conviction with costs." His Worship reminded Mr. M'lntosh that 110 regarded tho caso as very important, as it affected tho whole of our teachers and pupils, and 110 pointed out that it could be appealed against only, on law, unless tho fine, exceeded £5. 111 reply to the defendant, his Worship said that ho thought tlio mistake was in'not asking tho boy why 110 was lato (the boy was punished for being lato).. All.boys should know .what they wero being punished for. All th'o judges seemed to think that a boy should bo charged with a . specific olfoneo. Tho defendant announced his desire to appeal, and was 'fined £6 and costs totalling £4 7s.