PUNISHMENT OF GIRLS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20594, 19 June 1930, Page 13

PUNISHMENT OF GIRLS.

USE OF THE STRAP.

BOARD REMOVES BAN.

RECENT DECISION REVERSED.

THE ATTITUDE OF TEACHERS.

The ban on corporal punishment of girls under twclvo years of .age imposed by tho Auckland Education *Board at a recent meeting has been removed. Tho board yesterday revcrSfd, by seven votes to six, its decision to abolish corporal punishmont of these girls. Tho original by-law was as follows: "Corporal punishment may bo .inflicted by tho head teacher or by an assistant with his approval, but it should bo used as sparingly as possiblo. 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 bo reserved for deliberate breaches of discipline and for wilful faults. Tho corporal punishment of girls of 12 years of age and over is prohibited, while it is oxpected that in infant departments, and as far as all the girls of the school are concerned, corporal punishment should be rendered unnecessary by tho teacher's methods of government.

Deputation ol Teachers.

"Girls are not to lw 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 date, name, nature of the offence, and tho amount of punishment shall be entered in a book kept for tho purpose." Thus under this by-law, teachers wero definitely restricted to corporal punishment of girls under 12. At a recent meeting tho board agreed to go even further, and it decided that the corporal punishment of all girls should bo abolished. At the timo the decision was opposed bv some members and ono prophesied that the board would change its view.

At tho next meeting of the board, a deputation from the Auckland branch of the New Zealand Educ;itional Institute voiced strong objection to tho decision to abolish corporal punishment of girls. Tho speakers, all teachers of experience, said they did not advocate such punishment, but they felt that teachers were being deprived of a very desirable means of securing discipline. Even tho mere knowledge that it could be strapped influenced a child. It was stated that tho board's decision had had an immediate effect in that one girl had addressed to its teacher the remark, '■! Yah, you cannot punish me."

Close Voting on Motion.

At yesterday's meeting consideration was given to a notice of motion by Mrs. V. Donaldson that tho original by-laws should bo reinstated, with a further provision that " a copy of tho entries in the punishment book shall be forwarded with tho term returns by tho head or solo teacher to the Education Board at the end of each term."

The discussion was taken in committee and the motion was carried by seven votes to six. It was supported by Mrs. Donaldson, Messrs. H. S. W. King, S. B. Sims, T. U. Wells, G. Brownlee, J. Primrose and E. C. Banks, and opposed by Messrs. A. Burns (chairman), J. Boddie, W. J. Campbell, R. Hoe, J. P. McPhail and F. A. Snell.