Bible called upon to support bringing back cane

 

A HEADMASTER who is seeking the right to bring back the cane told a British court yesterday (2 November 2001) that the corporal punishment of children was advocated by passages in the Bible.

Philip Williamson, head of the Christian Fellowship School in Liverpool, produced a series of Old Testament quotations for Mr Justice Elias in the High Court in London.

John Friel, counsel for Williamson, who is representing heads, teachers and parents from 12 Christian schools, told the judge that parents who believed in corporal punishment on religious grounds should be able to authorise teachers, who act on their behalf, to smack their children. He said that physical chastisement was a matter of doctrine.

Passages from Proverbs offered to the judge included:

“Folly is bound up in the heart of a child but the rod of discipline will drive it far from him;”

“If you punish him with the  rod he will not die. Punish him with the rod and save his soul from death;”

“The rod of correction imparts wisdom but a child left to itself disgraces its mother;”

and “He who spares the rod hates the child.”

 Mr Williamson is seeking a judicial review of the ruling by the Secretary of State for Education and Skills that all corporal punishment in schools is unlawful.

Hugo Keith, counsel for the Secretary of State, opposing the application, said that the clear intention of Parliament had been to ban corporal punishment in all schools.

Mr Justice Elias reserved judgement.

As published in Irish Independent (Dublin), 3 November 2001.

Picture credit: Unknown

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