CONTROL OF PUPILS

Dominion, Volume 27, Issue 226, 21 June 1934, Page 8

CONTROL OF PUPILS

Corporal Punishment in Primary Schools

ADVICE OF INSPECTORS

Dominion Special Service.

Dunedin, June 20

“Control is a strong feature in almost all schools. We regret that not all teachers keep a record of corporal punishment as advised by the board iu 1932. This hampers our work iu connection with character-building. From the evidence that has come before us we have reluctantly to admit that corporal punishment lias in certain eases been used as a teaching method.’ Tire keeping of a record would enable us to suggest ways and means of avoiding such practice where it may exist, As our teachers are imbued with tho worthiest of motives, we think that such suggestions would be welcome concerning what is no longer considered correct teaching procedure.” This statement appears in the annual report of the inspectors of the Otago Education Board. “The majority of our teachers realise the importance hf school training as a preparation for right living and true citizenship, and we recognise with satisfaction the earnestness of their endeavours with a view to giving such training,” the report continues. “Most of tlie treatment is incidental to the work of the school, as tire whole problem of character-building is perhans the most difficult which teachers have to face, iu that it hinges upon the relationship of the individual to society. If children are too much repressed they lose initiative and the general unfolding of personality is cramped; if they have over-much freedom they tend to become irresponsible and perhaps out of harmony with their fellows. It seems, however, to have been proved that the better way to deal with the expression of undesirable instincts and tendencies is not so much by repression as by an endeavour to switch the working of these innate interests into desirable channels. “Our discussions with teachers as to character-training often resolve themselves upon Hits principle, easy to understand but not so easy to cart»y into successful application as might at first sight appear.”