asked the Minister for Education if, in view of his statement that to define arbitrarily the means and method of correction seems to be a clear infringement of parents' natural rights, he will state whether the parent may, if he so wishes, assert these rights by directing the teacher not to correct his child by means of physical punishment.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Correction of Children.
It would be presumption on my part, if, as the Deputy appears to suggest, I were to attempt to determine to what extent a parent may endeavour to assert what he might consider to be his natural rights.
It is thus not for me to say how the desire of a parent for preferential treatment for a particular pupil may be reconciled with the teacher's responsibility for the maintenance of discipline as required by the common good of all the children entrusted to his care and the good of the community in general.
My function in the matter is, I consider, to see to it that, in the interests of all the children and of the common good, the teacher maintains discipline in the school, but that in the exercise of the authority corresponding to such responsibility, his conduct is such as is not unbefitting his trust.
Does the Minister not agree that if the entire responsibility rests with the parent and he has, as he said, the natural right to decide the method by which the child is punished, that primary responsibility always remains and cannot be usurped by any deputed person, such as a teacher, and consequently the parent has the right and must have the right to decide in which way the child will be punished in the school? Could the Minister not agree that is a reasonable point of view, arising from his own assertion?
Yes, but I think the Deputy must realise also that in the exercise of the parent's natural right there are occasions when the law may have occasion to interfere with the manner in which the parent is allowing his child to conduct himself.