Аня из Авонлеи
IV. Different Opinions
MissStacyneverwhippedanyofusandshehadperfectorder;andMr.Phillipswasalwayswhippingandhehadnoorderatall.No,ifIcan’tgetalongwithoutwhippingIshallnottrytoteachschool.Therearebetterwaysofmanaging.Ishalltrytowinmypupils’affectionsandthentheywillWANTtodowhatItellthem.”
“Butsupposetheydon’t?”saidpracticalJane.
“Iwouldn’twhipthemanyhow.I’msureitwouldn’tdoanygood.Oh,don’twhipyourpupils,Janedear,nomatterwhattheydo.”
“Whatdoyouthinkaboutit,Gilbert?”demandedJane.“Don’tyouthinktherearesomechildrenwhoreallyneedawhippingnowandthen?”
“Don’tyouthinkit’sacruel,barbarousthingtowhipachild...ANYchild?”exclaimedAnne,herfaceflushingwithearnestness.
“Well,”saidGilbertslowly,tornbetweenhisrealconvictionsandhiswishtomeasureuptoAnne’sideal,“there’ssomethingtobesaidonbothsides.Idon’tbelieveinwhippingchildrenMUCH.Ithink,asyousay,Anne,thattherearebetterwaysofmanagingasarule,andthatcorporalpunishmentshouldbealastresort.Butontheotherhand,asJanesays,Ibelievethereisanoccasionalchildwhocan’tbeinfluencedinanyotherwayandwho,inshort,needsawhippingandwouldbeimprovedbyit.Corporalpunishmentasalastresortistobemyrule.”
Gilbert,havingtriedtopleasebothsides,succeeded,asisusualandeminentlyright,inpleasingneither.Janetossedherhead.
“I’llwhipmypupilswhenthey’renaughty.It’stheshortestandeasiestwayofconvincingthem.
