OCR Text |
Show Spanking Hailed, Assailed The recent Supreme Court decision clearing the way for school teachers to spank pupils again is being hailed and assailed. SOME idealists say spanking isn't necessary if other conditions (social and family) are adequate. The realists argue that family and social conditions are not adequate today and not likely to be adequate for years, so that discipline is necessary; they point to the ternble increase in disorder in the schools and crime in general (and a lowering school attainment average) to bolster their argument. CRUELTY to children can do irreparable harm and teachers or parents who use physical punishment excessively exces-sively are rendering society a great disservice. On the other hand, one must assume most teachers are well-motivaied. have a degree of common sense and are capable of handling children properly and assessing personal per-sonal behavior and needs. |