An interesting article from August 1893. The School Board met that month to discuss who should pay for the “tawse” being supplied to Low Blantyre School.
The problem was that leather straps for the sole use of imposing punishment on children, was not something the whole Board agreed upon should be paid for by ratepayers. There was an admission that parents would be appalled at their taxes being spent on such things.
So was the dilemma. The Tawse was needed, wanted for the best part by the teachers, but approval to spend ratepayers money and school budget on this, raised morals questions.
Mr Ness however, as headmaster of the school at the corner of Glasgow Road and Victoria Street, piped up and said he would gladly pay the amount himself, twice, if it meant its continued use and more awareness of the “corrections it caused” when children misbehave!
AI pictures the scene.
