NEITHER CANE NOR STRAP.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1235, 18 September 1911, Page 4

NEITHER CANE NOR STRAP.

SOAP FOtl TAINTED TONGUES.

Thero are many ways of 'punishing children, but at least one lady schoolteacher in Auckland can be congratulated on a display of ingenuity amounting almost to genius in her methods. Last week the teacher in question (the "Herald" states) had becomo cognisant of tho fact that some of the boys in her class had been making use of "naughty words," and, not content with uttering them, had also written tho words in chalk on the footpath. When the class assembled tho teacher asked who were tho culprits. Three small boys honestly confessed their misdoings, and walked to tho front of the class at their teacher's bidding, with sheepish tread and downcast faces. Did tho teacher burst into an angry tirade at their misdoings, or did she resort to the "cane" to punish them? No! She had a more etfectivo means of punishment ready. With serious face, she calmly admonished them on their conduct, and pointed out that it was very necessary that they should cleanse their tongues of the offending words. She procured some soap, and mado tho culprits lather their tongues with it, the operation being performed with many grimaces. When tho tongues were well lathered the offenders wcro ordered to rinso out their mouths; this being done with a great amount of spluttering. Thus were their tongues cleansed of the offending words, and it is confidently anticipated that tho wholesome lesson thus inflicted will make them think twice before sullying their tongues in future. It might be pointed out that tho teacher referred to has quite a reputation for t.lio excellent discipline she maintains in her class, and this is due. not. to an excessive use of tho "fane." but to ingenious methods devised by herself.