Boys become hardened to corporal or other severe punishments too often
repeated. Pain seems due to fate and loses nearly all of its little
corrective value. With rare exceptions penalties inflicted provoke
mutual antagonism between pupil and teacher. This inhibits the
development of character.
Mr. Elsworth made no headway with the punishment method. If he wisely
adopts the plan to direct the activities of the boys instead of
suppressing them, he can win the respect and good-will of the
disobedient boys. He must avoid “testing” their loyalty as far as
possible; any slight lapse is a serious backward step. Time is needed to
effect a cure; years of mismanagement cannot be remedied in a few days.
If Mr. Elsworth reverses his attitude toward the boys the method will be
effective; his opinion of, and known sentiments regarding, these boys
have more significance than all the plans he may adopt.
If practice in obedience is given on matters pertaining to the school
welfare, the boys will have a persistent social reason for doing right.
The principal is to convince them that he is merely expressing plans for
courses of action that the school welfare demands; he is not making a
private matter of his control of the boys.