STRAP IN SCHOOLS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22195, 23 August 1935, Page 13

STRAP IN SCHOOLS

COMPLAINTS IN OTAGO PUNISHMENT IN TEACHING BOARD'S STRONG DISAPPROVAL [nV TKLKUIIAI'Il —OWN COKUKSPONIJKNT] DUNEDIN, Thursday The increasing nuniber of complaints of corporal punishment in schools was viewed in a serious light by the Otago Fducation Hoard to-day, when the hoard reiterated its strong disapproval of such punishment as an aid to teaching and for term examination work. It was again pointed out that girls were not to he subjected to punishment unless the circumstances were exceptional. The complaints apparently involved women as well as men teachers. Mr. James Wallace, the chairman, said the hoard had had various complaints in different forms about corporal punishment, and he thought it might he wise if ho now made a statement to bo forwarded as a circular to the teachers in all the schools. Within the past three months he had had at least nine to 12 complaints about the treatment meted out to children by teachers; not only men teachers, hut women teachers, fre did not know whether teachers were any more harsh with children than they used to be, but the trend to-day was against corporal punishment. He thought that he should make the following official statement: "From inquiries and complaints which reach board members and the office, it would seem that there is still too much corporal punishment for lessons and school work. There has been a marked improvement in this respect during the past two years, but there still appear to be some teachers who do not seem to know that the hoard strongly disapproves of corporal punishment as an aid to teaching and for term examination work, and also that there is a by-law which states that girls are not to he subjected to corporal punishment unless in exceptional circumstances." That statement, Mr. Wallace suggested, should be sent to every school in Otago. "But of course it does not apply to many of the schools," he added. Members unanimously agreed to the issue of the circular.