Samuel Johnson, arguably the father of modern English was once asked - how he had acquired such remarkable proficiency in Latin.
He replied
"My master whipt me very well. Without that, Sir, I should have done nothing"
Mr Johnson was a lifelong supporter of the use of the whip
He replied
"My master whipt me very well. Without that, Sir, I should have done nothing"
Mr Johnson was a lifelong supporter of the use of the whip
He felt that using the whip and the rod to make children learn was much healthier than promoting a culture of "competitiveness"
Comparing kids with fellow kids to make them learn inculcates in them a spirit of envy and also aids the development of a bloated ego.
Comparing kids with fellow kids to make them learn inculcates in them a spirit of envy and also aids the development of a bloated ego.
The Rod in contrast is direct in its exhortation. It doesn't engender the unhealthy spirit of envy, ego and self-centeredness, which you get from competitive exams
To quote him -
"I would rather (said he) have the rod to be the general terrour to all, to make them learn, than tell a child, if you do thus, or thus, you will be more esteemed than your brothers or sisters"
(Contd..)
"I would rather (said he) have the rod to be the general terrour to all, to make them learn, than tell a child, if you do thus, or thus, you will be more esteemed than your brothers or sisters"
(Contd..)
"The rod produces an effect which terminates in itself. A child is afraid of being whipped, and gets his task, and there's an end to it"
""Whereas by exciting emulation and comparisons of superiority, you lay the foundation of lasting mischief; you make brothers and sisters hate each other"
While this may nauseate our "liberal" minds, there is some food for thought there.
I think the culture of "competition" in schools has only led me personally to develop a thin skin, an unwarranted ego, and stunted my development by setting relative benchmarks - local maximas
I think the culture of "competition" in schools has only led me personally to develop a thin skin, an unwarranted ego, and stunted my development by setting relative benchmarks - local maximas
The old fashioned taunts and twisting of the ear at home as a kid perhaps propelled me to learn more than the "competitive culture" in school which only made me learn a bunch of shortcuts to beat fellow kids at cracking exams
Fear is underrated. It can be a source of remarkable effort, as well as character transformation.
Yet we have created a culture in our times that portrays fear in almost exclusively negative terms, much to the detriment of young people
Yet we have created a culture in our times that portrays fear in almost exclusively negative terms, much to the detriment of young people
Even some 50-60 years ago, parents often used the whip and the rod sparingly and judiciously to keep the kids in line. Sure there were abuses, but to focus exclusively on the abuses is to present an inaccurate picture of the efficacy of the rod
