Cane wielded good and hard in Biggleswade, promises headmaster

The cane is very much in use in his school and it is “wielded good and hard,” when the need arises, a local newspaper reported headmaster Mr. J. F. Lewis saying in 1954.

DISCIPLINE IN SCHOOLS

‘Cane is Wielded Good and Hard’

The rumour that discipline in schools is far too lax was dispelled by the headmaster (Mr. J. F. Lewis) at the meeting of Biggleswade V. P. School, when he said that on occasions the cane was wielded good and hard.

The chairman (the Rev. R. B. Griffin) raised the question saying there had been much talk in the town about the discipline of children. The modern education was to encourage and pamper rather than direct and control, and he would like to know that headmasters were not afraid to use the cane and give punishment. He felt we were too lax at the present time, and there was a lot that could be brought to bear on juvenile delinquency.

Mr. Lewis said there was a lot of talk that teachers were not allowed to use the cane. In his school they had very little trouble with the children, and it was seldom they had insubordination, incivility and wanton damage, inside the school. He thought the children had two standards of behaviour for he admitted that after school hours he had seen children climbing on bus shelters.

There were cases when the cane was absolutely essential, said Mr. Lewis, for instance when children were cruel to animals and bullied other children.

Much of the wanton damage was not done by children at all. The only serious damage they had, had been done by a wedding party.

As published in the Biggleswade Chronicle, 2 April 1954.

Traditional School Discipline

Traditionalschooldiscipline@gmail.com