CORPORAL PUNISHMENT IN SCHOOLS.

Evening Star, Issue 23324, 21 July 1939, Page 13

CORPORAL PUNISHMENT IN SCHOOLS.

ounuyuo. TO TUB EDITOR. - ‘ Sir, —Having read, the letter-in- your paper of the 13th. inst., signed J ‘ Merciful,” I quite agree with all'he says. My little girl, who is just seven and, in Lower Standard !., came home from school last Wednesday, IStliinst., in a shocking nervous condition. _ After much persuasion. and., pleading we dragged frony her sobbing frame that" she and her little class mate, a girl of the same age, had received corporal • punishment • from a student teacher. One at a time they had been placed over his knee and thrashed with ruler an'd pointer,, this being done when the class was dismissed for play, and these, two unfortunates, were left to sob it out by themselves and were told nob to tell their . mother. The student teacher then went to enjoy his morning tea after his tempered anger had been relieved. The crime committed by the girls was that they had been seen looking at each other’s work. ' Immediately after lunch I went up to the head master and gave him my complaint and my statement. He was both horrified and shocked, ns he had forbidden students'to touch the childred with a strap, as it was not allowed. The head master is a thorough gentleman and loved by all, and he told me he would see into the matter immediately. He reprimanded the student, and the young teacher-to-be •came down to mo and offered his apologies, (promising never to do it again. The head master and another teacher •witnessed the bruises ‘ fleft_ by the thrashing; Does not the Training College stress the point to these students that to gain the confidence of the child for learning it should be taught with love and kindness, not with anger and driving fear into these wee mites? It has been proved repeatedly that a popular teacher who is' loved by his scholars turns out the best and brightest scholars, as he can get more out of them. I quite understand we must have discipline, and I know that children can be very trying; but one must use a little discretion as to the punishment according to age and nature and crime committed. I think I voice the opinion. of many mothers that lady teachers should teach girls in the class room and men teachers take the boys; there would then be a better understanding. Let teachers . remember the old saying, “Omnia Vincit Amor.” — I am, etc., ~ . „ „ (Mbs) D, Godwin. July 20 [We are convinced from inquiries that no fault in the matter lies with the Training College.—Ed. E.S.]