Spare the Rod: Punishment and the Moral Community of Schools

Spare the Rod explores the history and philosophy of discipline in schools, arguing that it has become increasingly integrated with prison and policing, disregarding the unique status of schools as spaces of moral growth and community oversight. The authors suggest an approach to discipline that aligns with the moral community of schools.

Format: Hardback
Length: 168 pages
Publication date: 17 May 2021
Publisher: The University of Chicago Press

Spare the Rod: Tracing the History of Discipline in Schools and its Integration with Prison and Policing

In their thought-provoking book, Spare the Rod, historian Campbell F. Scribner and philosopher Bryan R. Warnick delve into the history and philosophy of punishment and discipline practices in American schools. To explore this controversial subject, the authors begin by asking fundamental questions about the meaning and purposes of discipline and punishment in educational settings. They examine how these concepts have evolved over time and what they reveal about our assumptions about education.

The authors then explore the justifications for discipline and punishment in schools. They question whether public school educators ever have the right to punish or discipline students, and if so, under what circumstances. They consider whether discipline and punishment are essential for moral education or whether they have no place in education at all. If some form of punishment is deemed justified, the authors argue that ethical guidelines must be followed to ensure that such practices are fair, just, and in the best interest of the students.

As schools have become increasingly bureaucratic over the last century, formalizing disciplinary systems and shifting from physical punishments to forms of spatial or structural punishment such as in-school suspension, school discipline has come to resemble the operation of prisons or policing. This integration, known as the school-to-prison pipeline, has significant consequences for students and communities. The authors argue that these shifts disregard the unique status of schools as spaces of moral growth and community oversight, and are incompatible with the developmental environment of education.

In conclusion, Spare the Rod offers a compelling analysis of the history and philosophy of discipline in schools, raising important questions about the role of punishment and discipline in education. The authors argue that an approach to discipline and punishment that aligns with the moral community that schools could and should be is necessary to promote the well-being and growth of students. By examining the justifications for discipline and punishment, the book provides valuable insights into the school-to-prison pipeline and the need for a more holistic and compassionate approach to education.

Weight: 326g
Dimension: 159 x 236 x 18 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780226785677