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Witmer said the issue came before the board after she announced in a newspaper article her intent to request the board to review its discipline policy, particularly as it related to corporal punishment As a result, the executive committee reviewed the issue and brought forward a recommendation supporting termination of the strap and rescinding of the policy on corporal punishment The board has studied the issue of corporal punishment on at least two other occasions. Coates recalls a public meeting held at Laure} Vocational School Sept 10. 1970 Parents were invited to speak with trustees about discipline in the schools Coates said the fact the board showed little or no hesitation in finalizing the issue last April. could in his opinion, be due to two things He said there has been a turnover in trustees and "they, like everyone else, are reading more and more about abuse in our, society." "A large group of parents felt strongly in favor of corporal punishment." said Coates. He said a number of parents in attendance were firm believers in the adage. "spare the rod,. spoil the child ~ The policy read "that although the use of corporal punishment is discouraged in schools under the: jurisdiction of the Waterloo County Board of Educstion, it may be used judiciously by the principal or his designee when they are of the opinion that its use would be beneficial."* > "This school has never used the strap so it is not a decision which brings any change to bear." said Fay Teal, vice principal of Park Manor public school in Elmira. The board‘s records show that six years ago, 79 children were strapped compared with 13 children in 1984 85 Liz Witmer, chairman of the Waterloo County Board of education, said statistics clearly indicate a gradual decline in the use of the strap Witmer said the issue of corporal punishment came before the board after the Law Reform Commission of Canada recommended in March that corporal punishment be abolished in schools. The commission stated corporal punishment was no longer an effective form of punishment and went so far as to suggest teachers should be charged with assault if they strapped students "I guess the reason I had asked for it was because of the change in the criminal code, and also I think it‘s an issue that I think its time had come." said Witmer Norman W Coates,. principal at Stewart Avenue Public School in Cambridge. echoed Witmer‘s sentiment. He believes the board‘s decision to ban the strap is appropriate in the 1980‘s "at a time when society is speaking out against abuse, both physical and mental. "On the whole. under these circumstances. I can‘t see the use of the strap is appropriate." he said Although the board discouraged the use of the strap. pressure from parents and some principals prevented an outright ban when the issue was brought before trustees in 1981 Witmer récalls the discussions and said there was just no support at that time ‘"The board banned an alternative," said Ron Lewis, principal of Westmount public school in Kitchener and president of the Waterloo County principal‘s association (elementary). "The actual use of the strap was limited in the county and therefore the board‘s decision will not change anyone‘s way of dealing with a child who is having some difficulties." Terry James Chronicle Special In the days of the oneâ€"room schoolhouse, teachers routinely chose the strap as a method of discipline for acts of misbehaviour â€" which often were as trifling as talking in class or shooting paper planes across the room. Jt was accepted by all as the ultimate fate for wrongdoings, a largeâ€"as life symbol of teacher _ _ authority. We‘ve all heard the hoary adage â€" spare the rod, spoil the child. ~ But in 1984â€"85, only 13 students in the region‘s public schools‘ felt its sting, and as of April of this year, the strap became a thing of the past. Waterloo County Board of Education officials, teachers and principals aren‘t exactly forming a line at the right to grieve its passing, either. * The issue of corporal punishment, in particular the use of the.strap as a disciplinary measure in schools, has come before the Waterloo County Board of Education on at least three occasions. On April 30, 1985, the board orchestrated the ouster when trustees voted unanimously to ban the use of the strap and rescind the board‘s policy statementâ€"on corporal punishment. According to elementary school principals contacted by the Chronicle, the board‘s decision will have little or no effect on disciplinary mearures used in the region‘s schools. While some of the principals interviewed admitted using the strap at some point during their career, all said itâ€"was a long time ago and its use was restricted to a last resort following counselling and other disciplinary measures which were ineffective. The strap was used with the parents‘ knowledge. Ironically, the principals who admitted using the strap, said in each case the student‘s behaviour improved immediately. Reviewed policy Little effect No support In the interim. disciplinary decisions are left to the discretion ofâ€"the principals and all appear to be following similar methods with two common ingredients; an increased use of counselling and a close working relationship with parents Lewis said the next and final step is suspension and there are two forms. The first is time out of the classroom _ In this case a disruptive student is given an alternative work area outside the classroom ~with the hopes they will have a desire to return to the classroom," Witmer said as yet the Waterloo County Board of Education has not come up with appropriate disciplinary guidelines in lieu of using the strap or other forms of corporal punishment. The board has yet to come up with an all encompassing definition of corporal punishment and the operations division is preparing a report on both issues Witmer expects these reports may be ready in the fall If this is not successful. Lewis said special education contacts are brought in and guidance and counselling begins "I think it‘s Jlike anything else. 1 think nowadays teachers have to be more tolerant. I think many acts of misbehaviour are tolerated today that 10 or 15 years ago were not tolerated and I think that‘s indicative of society." The Waterloo County Separate School Board has not banned the use of the strap in its schools, but will continue to monitor its use until January ‘86, at which time a report wil} come before the board. Lewis says discipline is a process He said when a student becomes disruptive the teachers and/or principal sit down and talk with him If inappropriate behaviour persists. parents are called in to discuss the problem and examine ways of "helping the child to understand and accept the fact that certain modes of behaviour are not acceptable in the school and society Witmer, mother of two, said in her personal opinion, she doesn‘t view hitting as an effective means of discipline: She believes it creates hostility and rebellion RC board chairman Anne Marie Sehl, said the strap is used in separate schools only as a last resort and is administered by the principal with a witness in attendance and permission of the parents Its use has also declined in the separate schools Suspension outside the school is a last resort and its Preparing report watenrod timofhcLE WbnEstHAy "SbuÂ¥? 106. ‘1d84s‘â€" rpAae s Coates, who also uses the time out approach at his school, said this method gives the student time to cool off and rethink the situation Coates said the board has a policy whereby, with the agreement of the parents, if time out within the school has had no positive results, the parents may keep their child home for half a day The time out method is based on the work of psychologist William Glasser, and is used effectively in the United States by elementary schools, high schools and reformatories Coates said working closely with parents is a key element in counselling He said parents may be experiencing the same problems at home and may have discovered an effective means of coping with it As a result, the parents may be in a position to assist the school or vice versa "This is in an effort to diffuse the problem before it accelerates," said Coates use is limited ‘"Mopefully the problem is resolved before this," said Lewis + As president of the principals association. Lewis said he has not received any response from parents. either for or against the board‘s decision. He has however. received some feedback as principal of Westmount public school "Three said it was about time and the other two asked what forms do we sign to allow you to hit my child"?~ said Coates ‘"By and large parents agree it (the strap) was ineffective as a method,." said Lewis Teal said her school has on occasion received input from both ends of the spectrum "You get the parents who say just give them (the students) the strap and you get the parents who ney want their children touched physically." she said Coates said he and his vice principals have had five calls in reference to the board‘s decision to ban the strap Coates said he has atso heard parents voicing the concern that once students get wind of the fact principals can no longer use the strap. teachers may bave difficulty disciplining them "We‘ll be in touch with you (the parent) I say. said Coates. There will be counselling and if all else fails. time out of the classroom and finally suspension _ Cool off yCP