School Discpline in1962

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In Room 9 we have been learning about what Sacred Heart was like in 1962. We asked Mr Forde, Mrs McInnery and Mr Lieshout.

But there is something that we were wondering: “Why did the law about corporal punishment change?”

We mean some kids still need to be put into order by pain. I know it sounds horribly mean but…. Well from my perspective punishments these days are just to…. Well, easy to get through. You see these days you have to pick up rubbish. I have NOTHING!!!!! against that because that’s helping the environment. But I think that the strap would have put people into order much faster.

Any way we found out that the law was changed in 1990 because it was a stupid idea to hit children because they didn’t know something or they were being naughty.

This made us wonder, how naughty would someone have to be to get the strap.

Further research (asking Mr Forde) told us that you didn’t have to be very naughty at all.

Next we wanted to know if they got rewarded for good behaviour or work. We were told you might have gotten a sticker or something like that.

Another question we had that was also answered by Mr Forde.

It was “Why did the teachers whack the kids on the hand instead of whacking them somewhere else?” He told our reporters Mathew and Ben that it was easier to get to and it hurt much more.

 Was the male gender more likely to get strapped than the female gender, is a question that we were wondering.

The answer was it was way more likely for the boys to get the strap. Most of the boys in Room 9 are glad they were not at school then!

Why have things changed?

We think one reason for the change is what scientists have discovered about the brain.

In Room 9 we have been learning about the brain. We learnt about fight or flight. Flight is if you go into flight mode and you freeze up (Find it hard to think) and in fight mode you just go for it, in other words stand and fight. So back then kids got scared of making a spelling mistake and getting the strap. So some of them would have gone into flight mode. Instead of helping the children to learn the thought of the strap stopped them from learning.

We think the other reason is to do with class sizes.

In 1962 their classes were huge.

 There were 37 kids in the junior class NE-Y2. There are now 17 in Room 2.

There were 41 kids in the middle Room Y3-Y5 There are now 23 in Room 6

 There were 32 kids in the senior class y6-y8 and the Principal taught this class all day as well as being Principal.

 There are now 28 in Room 9.

So we guess they needed to be so strict because the classes were so big. 

         Corporal Punishment

So you probably think you know what they did in the 1962. They had corporal punishment, but did you know another punishment was to and write lines on a blackboard or paper if they were naughty.

They had to write things like “I will not talk on the mat.” over and over again. Sometimes they had to write it a1000 times.

I bet you think it’s hard in school now, just think, writing lines for hours.  Think about that if you are ever angry about getting sent to the circle to cool off or think about what you did wrong. Just think what it was like for students in 1962. The strap or lines!!!

Why has it changed?

It is to do with what we know about punishments, children and learning not. If you ask a child not to do something over and over they are going to remember what not to do. Our teachers say, “Walk inside” They tell us what they want us to do and repeat it because that is what we will remember. If they said, “Don’t run” Our brains will remember  “run”

So in conclusion, when you are told off, think about those poor children that got the strap or had to write lines. Think about all the students that went before us that suffered that fate.