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From: mcal@ihuxb.UUCP (Mike Clifford)
Newsgroups: net.kids,net.legal,net.politics
Subject: Re: corporal punishment in schools
Message-ID: <1141@ihuxb.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 30-Aug-85 08:08:20 EDT
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Posted: Fri Aug 30 08:08:20 1985
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> > Discipline based on fear is worse than no discipline at all.  If a teacher
> > can't command the respect of students through non-violent means,
> > there is something wrong with the teacher.
> > My mother teaches second grade in one of the nastier areas of the
> > Bronx, in New York City.  She maintains order by letting the
> > students know, in no uncertain terms, that she will be fair with
> > them, but NOT TAKE ANY CRAP.  She has their respect, and
> > never resorts to corporal punishment (which is illegal).
> 
> Is NOT TAKE ANY CRAP emotional terrorism?  Hence, fear??
Emotional Terrorism????   Come on, get serious! Terrorism isn't close to
being the appropriate word here.  I think relief is more like it.
The best teachers that I had when I was in school were the ones that made it
known right from the start  that they weren't going to take any "crap".  When I had a teacher for
the first time, this is the first thing that was established.   Who's the boss?
And the tough (good) teachers made it clear that they weren't going to tolerate
any bullsh*t.  When I knew that the teacher was serious, I would knuckle down
and get to work, and wouldn't spend time trying to think of ways to fool around,because I knew that, at least in this class, I could get into trouble.
> Actually back when paddling was used, the greatest fear was not of
> the paddle, since life has many more displeasures than that.  The
> fear was of the parents finding out that one got paddles and the
> they would really catch hell.
> Today you call the parents to express concern about a child,
> and 50% of the time the parents don't want to be bothered.
And that's a damn shame!  I fully intend to be part of a team, working with
my child's teacher.  At the beginning of the school year, I will let the 
teacher(s) know that I am a parent that cares, and that I want the teacher
to not hesitate to call if there seems to be a problem brewing concerning my
child.  

Mike Clifford