An interesting article from March 1893 Hamilton Advertiser about corporal punishment in local Blantyre Schools.
The Educational News says: — The Blantyre School Board has wisely rescinded a regulation confining the use of the rod to headmasters. In future all certificated teachers in its service will have liberty to inflict corporal punishment, subject to the supervision of the headmasters. It is to be hoped that other Boards will follow the good example.”
“Teachers who cannot be trusted to administer punishment wisely have no claim on trust of any kind. As a matter of fact, however, the great majority of assistants are as little likely to abuse the privilege as the headmasters. Many of them are older and more experienced than some privileged wielders of the rod; and it is as absurd as it is prejudicial to their influence to tie their hands, when a prudent use of them would be for the good of their pupils. Considering that assistants are not now mere boys and girls, but in many cases men and women of considerable scholastic experience, the fashion of tying their hands in presence of their pupils is perhaps the most foolish that has yet found favour with School Boards. In rescinding a regulation that had been in force for several years, the School Board of Blantyre has shown that Boards can be under the evil influence of even unwholesome habits.”
“The Blantyre resolution to re-establish the right relations between teachers and pupils means that there will be an opening in the interference of one of the member of the Board with the teachers in the matter of discipline. That member claims the right to enter the schools whenever he pleases, and to act with all the authority of the Board; and he has the habit of making a very free use of his assumed prerogative. As a matter of fact, however, he has no right to enter a school except as the delegate of the Board for a specific purpose; and least of all is he entitled to interfere with long arrears of discipline. A School Board member, as such, has no more right to enter a school than any other member of the community; and the Blantyre teachers may shut the school doors in any day.”
