NRS-20433 | Punishment books [Doubtful Creek 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 publishment 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 of 1866，30 Vic. No.22）项下的监管条例，于1867年2月27日由教育委员会（Council of Education）通过。该条例通过制定相关条款规范了公立学校儿童的入学注册事宜，其中明确规定：“在学生管理工作中，应杜绝一切有辱人格且具有伤害性的惩戒手段。教师的管教方式需温和而坚定，态度和蔼可亲，举止从容愉悦，以赢得学生的信任，其言谈举止需严格合乎礼仪规范。教师虽不应姑息任何违纪行为，但核心目标应是通过感化违纪者，从根源上避免动用惩戒。”针对体罚，条例进一步补充：“体罚仅可在极端情形下使用，且必须作为最后的处置手段；教师需详细记录学生遭受体罚的时间、地点、体罚强度以及违纪行为的性质。”为便于落实该条例，标准化文具很快应运而生。此类体罚登记册（punishment books）即为所有学生受罚情况的专属登记簿，其详细收录的信息包括：学生姓名、年龄、违纪行为性质、体罚强度（即鞭打次数）、[体罚工具（几乎无一例外为藤条）]、处罚发起者、处罚实施日期以及体罚执行者。