NRS-20654 | Punishment book [Ben Venue (2) Public School]

Regulations under the Public Schools Act of 1866 (30 Vic. No.22), adopted by the Council [of Education] on 27 February 1867 regulated the punishment of children in schools by stipulating 'In the government of the pupils, all degrading and injurious punishments are to be avoided. The Teacher's discipline must be mild but firm, his manner kindly, his demeanour cheerful and calculated to gain the confidence of his pupils, and his language marked by strict propriety. While he should overlook no offence, his aim should be to prevent the necessity for punishment by the improvement of the offender.'In relation to corporal punishment the regulations continue: 'Corporal punishment should be inflicted in extreme cases only, and then as a last resource; and the teacher must keep a record of the time and place at which pupils were corporally chastised, the amount of such punishment and the nature of the offence.' Uniform stationery soon evolved to enable compliance with these regulations. These punishment books are registers of all punishments given to pupils. The information it details includes: the pupil's name, age, nature of offence, amount of punishment (i.e. number of strokes), the instrument of punishment (almost invariably the cane), by whom sent, the date of the punishment, and by whom the punishment was inflicted.

1866年《公立学校法案》（Public Schools Act，30 Vic. No.22）项下的条例，于1867年2月27日经教育委员会（Council of Education）通过，该条例对学校惩戒学生的行为作出规范，其中明确规定："在管理学生时，应避免一切侮辱性及伤害性惩戒。教师的管教须温和而坚定，态度应和蔼可亲，举止明快开朗，以赢得学生的信赖，其言语亦需严守礼仪规范。教师虽不应放过任何违规行为，但首要目标应是通过感化违规者、促使其改过自新，从根源上避免惩戒的必要。"

关于体罚（corporal punishment），条例进一步规定："体罚仅得在极端情形下实施，且需作为最后的惩戒手段；教师必须留存记录，载明对学生实施体罚的时间、地点、惩戒强度及违规性质。"

为满足该条例的合规要求，标准化惩戒记录簿应运而生。此类惩戒登记簿（punishment books）系记录所有对学生实施惩戒的登记册，其记载的信息包括：学生姓名、年龄、违规性质、惩戒强度（即鞭笞次数）、惩戒工具（几乎无一例外为藤条）、下达惩戒指令者、惩戒日期以及实施惩戒者。