The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-03-11
Tho Charge OF Cruelty against Mr.. Anderson
Principal or the Seventh Ward School.

Tho Charge OF Cruelty against Mr.. Anderson,
Principal OF the Seventh Ward School.
STATEMENT OF THE SCHOOL OFFICERS or THE WARD.
To THE PUBLIc:-The undersigned school officers
Of the Seventh ward sgreeably to notice previously
given, have fully investigated the charge made be-
fore the Mayors clerk, by Mr.. Michael Doran,
against Mr. Anderson, principal Of Ward School 81,
sparDg no pains to get at the facts as they existed
to which We herein briefly REFER The boy Doran
was called up for punishment, for having rudely and
maliciousy pushed aside and grossly insulted his
teacher, by using vulgar, prefane and threatening
language, in the presence OF his classmates and
Others because his teacher had reported him TO the
principal Tor previously striking another boy, and
loudly declaring that he would not go to the pri
pal for correction, as directed; and waen asked to
extend his hand for correction he perempt0dy re-
fused to do SO; aud when the principal had urged
the necessity Of complying, and was about TO insist
upon the rule, struggle easued, the boy lodging
under desk, receiving few stripes from thin
rattan (and from nothing else), which neither
touched his "head nor spile." During tue folio wing
two days the boy was missing from school, whea
on the third day the mother returned with him. sta
ting that he had been playing truant, &c. The
principal declined reinstating him at that time,
having concluded to report his case to the Board
The mother then and there learned, for the q rst
time, that the boy had been whipped at all, and sae
then, with the boy, lett the school. Nothing more
afterwards, when it was reported that the "a
Their was " determined to have satisfaction -
and the following day he appeared before the
Mayors clerk, making his statement which next day
gu opposed to come from the Mayors book, but viii ii
never has appeared on said book to this day, aad
which the Mayor disclaimed knowing anything
about, until he read 1t In the NOR ming papers. The
committee, on the night Of notification, repaired to
the house Of Mr.. Doran, and saw the boy and pa.
rents, when the latter informed them that they
sorry the case had been made public, and further,
that had they known that their boy had used such
language, &c, TO his teacher they would have chas
tised him themselves and ex0neratei Mr.. Anderson
from insisting upon his rule; nor would they have
made any complaint on their own account, aud that
they had been advised to do so by others. The com
mittee had the boy examined by DR.. Cockroft aud
Capt Haggerty, who reported him as being in per-
fectly good health and physical condition, sho wing
no marks, &C., AZ spoken Of In the complaint. Full
and ample time and opportunity have been given
give any satisfactory reason for making the COM
plant and they have failed to do so. Ths boy il
now, and was from the first, roaming the streets,
and tree from perceptible injuries. The undersign
ed much regret that so great q publicity has been
given to the matter, aud likewise regret tina; the
like occurrence, should take place In any Of
the schools under their charge, and however much
they wish to assist in carrying out strict discipline
they prefer that like boys for such gross miscondu It
should be dismissed from the school, than that the
principals of our schools should be compelled to in
fict severe corporal punishment. A detailed and
complete statement of the facts in the case has been
entered upon the minutes of this Board and the I'M
dersgned are ready and willing to give any further
explanation about the matter deemed necessary, by
any party or parties whom 1t may concern.
David Webb, Abraham Denike,
Geo. A. Buckingham, JAS B. Briusmade,
Iebulon G. Inslee, John Gray,
Geo. w. King, Jas. P. Bremner,
Wade b. Morale, Benjamin Parkhurst.
James w. Barker,
New York, March 5, 1855.