PUNISHMENT OF CHILDREN.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 1518, 5 February 1886, Page 3

PUNISHMENT OF CHILDREN.

Attention has been drawn again to this familiar object in connection with the sudden death of an Irish schoolboy, after having been " switched " for playing truant. It appears that the child had a weak and diseased heart, and that it was the effect of fright, acting upon that organ, which caused his decease. The coroner's jury recommended that, in future, children should not be extended, as this boy was, on a seat, in order to receive chastisement. But that is a detail; the evil must be dealt with in some more drastic and effectual manner. The Lancet suggests that there ought to be some means of c'iscovering the fitness of children both for their daily tasks and for their possible penalties. Medical knowledge on the part of teachers would be one such means, but we can scarcely expect that hard-worked class to add to the number of its requirements unless we are prepared to offer a suitable renumeration. Then it is hinted that there might be a peri* odical certification of school children by a medical practitioner, and that, too, would be an expensive matter. One thing is certain, and that is that there is among children an infinite variety of physique and temperament, and that one child can endure without harm what would do serious injury to another. It is desirable, therefore, either that the more delicate little onea shall not be punished at all, or that some penalty shall be found which can be administered to them without detriment to their health. There are surely other ways of making a child realise tbe enormity of its conduct thai personal chastisement. Probably, if certain teachers knew their business better, there would be fever occasions for punishing young people ; and certainly the correction ought to be cirefully adapted to the offence and the offender. The problem is, however, rather for parents than for teachers, Parent ought to know the constitution of their children, and should keep a close watch over what goes on at school. If the youngsters not stroDg, the teacher should be told so, and no doubt they would not be tasked or punished beyond their capacity.