PUNISHMENT IN SCHOOLS.

Feilding Star, Volume XXVII, Issue 26, 24 August 1905, Page 4

PUNISHMENT IN SCHOOLS.

Tbe Eltbaui High School Committee mot on Saturduy to conpider tbe following complaint lodged by Mr P Death :—" To day, 15th August, my nephew, Jfimes Sim, attended Mr Thomas' School in the u>ual way. In tbe course of the morning Mr Thomas inflicted punishment with a strap, tbe reyulfc of which is the hoy is veLy badly bruised on the buttocks and le^3 and otherwise knocked about. I have had him examined by Dr Harrison, who states that as far as he can tell he is not permanently injured, but is badly bruited, and I now as^k for an inquiry to be immediately held into the conduct of Mr Thomas, (or I consider the boy has been most brutally and unfairly treated." After J hearing tbo evidence in camera, tho follov* r ing resolutions weio passed : — "That in the opinion of tbis Com- ! mittee the punishment inflicted ou ! James Sim on Tuesday, loth August, by Mr Thoma-, headmaster of the Eltbain High School, was exces-ive iv comparison with tho offence, and that a copy of this resolution be Bent to tbe VVangfinui Education Board " ; "That this Committee considers tbe j practice of admini.-tering corporal ' punit>hment on tho seat ot tbe trousers in tbe presence of girls >s degrading, and suggests to tho Edit- I cation Board that a regulation be issued by tbe Board prohibiting sucb j practice. " Tho evidenco showed j that the ela?s was on the verge of mutinying during tbe punishment, some of iho girls being hysterical, and tho screams of the boy being plainly beard by people outside.