Dear Editor,
May I through this opinion page be allowed to voice my opinion on the modern practices in our schools? It seems whenever children get into trouble, ie. physically fighting each other they are handing a suspension which to me seems totally useless. Who gains from a suspension? Nobody, least of all the student.
I attended school in the days when teachers were allowed to punish us by way of the bamboo cane. I felt the cane more than once and I believe it was just. I know nowadays teachers have to put up with a lot of guff and their hands are tied so to speak and yes, my sympathy goes out to them (the teachers that is).

Please allow me to continue by arking back to my own school days in Wales. We had a teacher named Mr. Morgan or as he was know to us all “Boxer” Morgan. Boxer was a stout, fierce looking character who taught us mathematics and rugby. He was also a professional boxing referee. If he ever caught us fighting we were given the opportunity to go to the gymnasium and put the gloves on. Obviously Boxer was the referee. Also if you had a dispute with a fellow student you could go to Boxer and say, “Sir we’d like to put the gloves on.” Many an argument was settled this way and no days of valuable education were lost.
We all grew to respect Mr. Morgan and it’s my opinion that today’s schools could do with a few “Boxers”.

Paul Stanworth
Campbell’s Bay, Que.