760 PROCEEDINGS OF SECTIOX J. 



but what relates to the prize; and when success attends the efforts 

 of one of their number, the nineteen unsuccessful nervous competitors, 

 lashed by disappointment, are secretly suffering from jealousy and 

 cixvy. The twenty lymphatic boys, constitutionally incapable of 

 sustained nerve strain, have been discouraged from the beginning. 

 Their emotional tendency of languid indifference or hopeless self- 

 depreciation has been strengthened. Instincts have been allowed to 

 dominate which will tend to make these boys develop into craven- 

 hearted, dependent men, incapable of meeting the complex responsi- 

 bilities of adult life. If the object of ethical training be the 

 cultivation of all the generous and pleasurable emotions beneficial 

 to social life, and the repression of all the mean, selfish, pain- 

 causing emotions detrimental to social life, then we must remove 

 from our schools not only prize-giving but every other form of 

 artificial stimuli, substituting in their place the helpful stimuli of 

 natural emotions. We can do this in the full assurance that we ai'e 

 not only removing obstacles, but are also placing stepping stones in 

 the upward path of national morality. 



The same general principle holds true with respect to punish- 

 ments. Natural not artificial means of correction must be employed. 

 If a suitable environment has been created for the cultivation of the 

 ethical emotions, temptations to wrong doing will be greatly reduced. 

 Unethical conduct is frequently the result of an unethical environ- 

 ment. When it occurs in an ethical environment it is a manifestation 

 of emotional unfitness on the part of the transgressor. To punish 

 him for this unfitness in any arbitrary way will be likely to arouse 

 feelings of resentment, defiance, or self -depreciation. Emotions which 

 will tend to make him more unfit. If a boy tells a lie how can a 

 thrashing, or an imposition, or the loss of a holiday, or a diet of 

 bread and water make him tell the truth ? 



The lie is a manifestation of an emotional condition out of 

 harmony with his surroundings. As long as that condition continues 

 he will be untruthful. The condition must be altered. He must 

 be made to experience the emotional pain resulting from being 

 distrusted and suspected by his fellows. Only an emotion can 

 counteract an emotion. If necessary, take him before the class, 

 discuss the matter openl}^ with his schoolmates — "" This boy cannot 

 be believed ; statements he makes we must verify for ourselves," &c. ; 

 and this not done in a cold critical manner, but with a sympathy 

 which the culprit must feel. Wlien he shows signs of remorse, put him 

 on social trial for a given period. If, during that time, under the 

 constant supervision of his fellows, he is truthful and sincere, he can 

 be fittingly reinstated among the honourable members of the 

 community. He, too, can be trusted. 



Punishments of an arbitrary nature are essentially vindictive, 

 they express in one form or another the spirit of revenge, and are 

 absolutely unethical in tendency. Remedial punitive measures are 

 alone psychologically justified. They require to be administered 

 firmly and openly, but always with sympathy towards the offender. 

 This does not apply to congenital criminals, who require special 

 treatment, and should not be allowed to mix with normal children. 



