Attention was drawn by w letter in the correspondence columns to an article in the most recent lisue of "The Spectator," written by a man who was for fifteen years 0 master at Harrow, entitled "The Cane and the Cat." 'The article, which fully deserves the attention" which has been drawn to it, deals with the old controversy of corporal punish ment, and whether it may not do more harm than' good. The writer of the article believes that it does definite harm, at least among adolescents, while as an argument against the lise of the cat he quotes. the tims-worn comment that violence breeds violence and that such a punishment may arouse desires for revenge from which society will eventually suf-'Of course, the supporter of the eat might very easily reply: "Exactly." Because the cat Alot used except as punishment for the most degraded offences or for violence, But so far fas the use of the cane on adolescents is concerned, the argument is altogether different. The whole question of forms of punishment in schools is brought up. There can be little difference of opinion that the best solution of this problem is an individual. one. There are some children who are harmed by corporal punish ment, and there are others who benefit by it. An iitustration of this wag recently brought to notice by a puzzled parent of two boys. The elder of the two, a sensitive child, completely closed up when confronted with the cane. He seemed mentally paralysed, not only while the pain of the punishment lasted but for hours afterwards, during which he appeared to be Incapable of taking in What was said to him. The younger, however, bore the cone with a fortittide which amounted almost to indifference, though he acknowledged the power of the parental right arm with the requisite amount fof howling. Another form of punishment was tried on the' {wo. They were made to stand on a chair in a conspicuous place when they hid been naughty. The elder did not mind this at all, but quickly lost himself to his surroundings by telling himself a story or some such device. The younger, however, resented this form of punishment and usually came off the chair in such a state of flaming mutiny that he was in the frame of mind to commit another offence immediately. This contrast in one family is good illustration of the generat dimeulty. Tt is doubtful whether there can be any line aid [down definitely about the yood or evil done by feorporal punishment to children; but the individual method of treatment is obviously too complicated for application in a big school, where an average form of punishment, taking into consideration the patently over-sensitive cases, must be struck, The B.B.C, Extends Again Broadcasting House, the headquarters of the British Broadcasting "Corporation, is certainly Jone of the most remarkable buildings in Lon lon, and its peculiar rounded facade, ornament-fed with has-reliefs of the most modern style, has become a magnet for all tourists visiting the metropolis. The B.B.C. announcement that new extension will shortly be built at the northern end will be greeted with pleasure everywhere, for this part of the existing bulld-Ing—spreially designed to allow extensions to be added—has always had a slightly und nished appearance, In troubled times such as the present one can hardly fail to remark upon the attractiveness of the completed Broadcasting House as a target for a raiding bomber. Fortunately, the B.B.C. has had such a possibil ity in mind, and much of the important apparatus—ineluding the vital power-plant—i already placed well below street level, Watei [Is provided by an artesian well in the under~ ground rooms, and the new extension will incorporate five. subterranean studies, the largest fof which will be thirty feet high, Afty fect wide and eighty feet long. In case of emergency, the whole of the underground rection of Broadeast-{ing House will function as an independent transmitting station, gas-proofed and selt-sutficient. 'The five underground studies will actually be deeper than the famous vaults of the Bank of England, and each will be constructed Jas a "Wloating" unit, independent of its neigh-hour. Round them' will be built a retaining walll of concrete, situated in a trench 64 feet deep and 30 fect wide. The area of the new extensions will more than equal the existing Jarea of Broadcasting House, and the final bulldig will present an imposing elevation with skyline 110 fect above street level and roots extending down into the earth for, nearly sixty eet. Although no oficial estimate has yet been jsiven, it is estimated that the new extension ill cost £1,000000.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.