one of the most painful punishments

[keannu]

1.Why is the "kind" changed to "kindly"? I can't understand how an adverb can function an adjective.
2. If the teacher is showing a kind attitude despite the student's mistake, the students should be relieved, but why is it saying he will suffer the most painful punishment? Is it an oximoron?

ex)From the very beginning of school we make books and reading a constant source of possible failure and public humiliation. When children are little we make them read aloud, before the reacher and other children, so that we can be sure they "know" all the words they are reading.... Perhaps some of the other children will begin to wave their hands and say, "Ooooh! O-o-ooh!" Perhaps they will just giggle and make a face. Perhapes the teacher will say, "Are you sure?" or ask someone else what he thinks. Or perhaps, if the teacher is kindly, she will just smile a sweet, sad smile - often one of the most painful punishments a child can suffer in shool.

 

[SoothingDave]

1. "Kindly" is a mistake. It should be "kind."
2. The teacher is being kind by not pointing out the student's reading mistake, just smiling.

 

[emsr2d2]

"Kindly" can be an adjective too, simply meaning "kind".

kindly - definition of kindly by the Free Online Dictionary, Thesaurus and Encyclopedia.

 

[Barb_D]

I believe the author is suggesting that a sweet, sad smile that silently says "You really aren't very good at this, poor boy" is more painful than a correction that says "I know you can do better!"

 

[5jj]

1. "Kindly" is a mistake. It should be "kind."

I agree. You will find in some dictionaries that 'kindly' is a rather old-fashioned word that can be used as an adjective, meaning 'kind and caring' (OALD). However, when used in that way, it always directly precedes a noun. So, even if that is what the writer had in mind, it's still not correct.