§ 5. Mr. Winnickasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what decision has now been reached on ending caning in schools for handicapped children.
§ The Secretary of State for Education and Science (Mr. Edward Short)I should greatly deprecate the use of corporal punishment on handicapped children but the ultimate decision on this matter must depend upon the professional judgment of the teachers.
§ Mr. WinnickIs my right hon. Friend going back on the clear statement by his predecessor that caning in such schools must cease? If he is, it is most deplorable. Will my right hon. Friend recognise the feeling among most people that there can be no justification at all for the caning of handicapped pupils in either State or private schools?
§ Mr. ShortWhat would be deplorable would be for me to try to lay down how teachers should carry out their professional duties. I hope that we can make some progress on the question of professional status and that this is the kind of question which teachers themselves will consider in the context of a code of professional conduct.
§ Mr. WinnickOn a point of order. I asked whether the Minister was going back on what his predecessor said, and he has not answered——
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. Dissatisfaction with an answer is not a point of order.
§ Mr. FortescueWould the right hon. Gentleman confirm that there is a clear distinction to be drawn in this matter between mentally handicapped children and educationally subnormal children?
§ Mr. ShortMy hon. Friend is very unfair. I prefaced by reply by saying that I deprecated the use of corporal punishment for handicapped children, but teachers themselves must deal with this problem in the context of their own code of professional conduct.