SCHOOL PUNISHMENT

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 266, 6 August 1931, Page 7

SCHOOL PUNISHMENT

Teachers and Board By-law CONFERENCE TO BE HELD Regulations regarding the corporal punishment of children in schools, whicn were imposed last year by the Auckland Education Board, will be the subject of a conference between the board and members of the Auckland branch of the New Zealand Educational Institute. Teachers have objected to the regulations, and it is desired that an agreement upon the points in dispute should be reached. The board’s by-laws with regard to corporal punishment read: “Corporal punishment may be inflicted by the head teacher or by an assistant, with his approval, but it should be used as sparingly as possible. Its frequent infliction in a school is to be accounted an indication of defective discipline. Corporal punishment should not be inflicted for trivial breaches of discipline, for failure or inability to learn, or for neglect to prepare home lessons, but should be reserved for deliberate breaches of discipline and for wilful faults. The corporal punishment of girls of 12 years of age and over is prohibited, while it is expected that in infant departments, and as far as all the girls of the school are concerned, corporal punishment should be rendered unnecessary by the teacher's methods of government. “Girls are not to be subjected to corporal punishment unless under exceptional circumstances, and then, if possible, at the hands of a female teacher. When corporal punishment has been administered, particulars as to the date, name, nature of the offence, and the amount of punishment, shall be entered in a book kept for the purpose. A copy of the entries in the punishment book shall he forwarded with the term returns by the head or sole teacher to the Education Board at the end of the term.” The board’s by-laws further state:— “The strap is to be used instead of the cane as formerly.” Teachers contend that the by-laws have greatly restricted their operations, and the institute has taken up their case with the board. It is claimed that the by-laws are not in the best interests of discipline in the school.