the previous pages where it was pointed out that the preventive system

...excludes all violent punishments and tries to do without even the slightest chastisement.

Being forewarned, the pupil does not lose courage on account of the faults he has committed... nor does he resent the correction he receives or the punishment threatened or inflicted, because it is always accompanied by a friendly preventive warning which appeals to his reason and generally enlists his accord, so that he sees the necessity of the chastisement and almost desires it.

The repressive system instead, arouses bitter recollections for punishments received, even though they were deserved, because the manner in which they were given was hateful.1223

Don Bosco is more moderate especially when he had to write for the public than when he deals with

‘practical’ education particularly at the Oratory in Valdocco. No wonder then, that he holds on to a very succinctly expressed thesis: “Never have recourse to punishments if possible”.1224

In a Good Night given during the summer of 1884, in a fragment from the Chronicle already quoted, Don Bosco asked for 'much trust', rather than, 'fear' and then added:

“I abhor punishments as much a father in his own family…But...”.1225

Punishing was not part of Don Bosco's habitual ordinary way of behaving.1226 In a letter he wrote the Salesians dated May 10 1884, we see the echoes of a sad question:

Why the replacement little by lit tle of watchful and loving prevention by a system which

consists in framing laws? Such laws either have to be sustained through punishment and so

create hatred and cause unhappiness, or if they are not enforced cause the superiors to be

despised and bring about serious disorders.

1227

When punishment is inevitable, it should not be inflicted until all other means have been exhausted and

there is some hope for the party punished to get some benefit out of it.

1228

It is Don Bosco's steadfast and repeatedly mentioned position never to inflict violent and physical punishments.

Striking the boys in any way, obliging anyone to be on their knees and in a painful position,

pulling their ears and other similar punishments must be absolutely avoided. They are

forbidden by ci vil law, greatly irritate the young and degrade the educator.

1229

“Neither the whip nor blows and other violent punishments, nor any punishment harmful to one’s health; normally no assignments for detention, no reflection rooms which, at times, were given due consideration”.1230

Don Bosco first of all leans towards natural and psychological punishments inspired by reasonableness and goodness. Depriving a boy of a kindly sign is a punishment which gives courage and never humiliates.

1223 Il sistema preventivo (1877), p.

1224 Il sistema preventivo (1877), p.

1225 D. Ruffino, Libro di esperienza 1864, p. 67. Fr Lemoyne reports a text which is longer which he says he got from

Fr Bonetti's diary (MB VII 503); a brief section is quoted in Chap. 15.

1226 'Due lettere datate da Roma...,' in P. Braido (Ed.), Don Bosco educatore..., p. 385.

1227 'Due lettere datate da Roma...'., in P. Braido (Ed.), Don Bosco educatore..., p. 385.

1228 J.M. Prellezzo, Dei castighi da infligersi...., pp. 290-294.

1229 The article is added to the text of the Preventive System published in the Rules for the Houses, p. 12 OE XXIX 108. 1230 Also the letter Dei castighi da infligersi...., Prellezzo. pp. 304-306.