Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1856-11-28

Frightening a Child
Mr. James Harrison Of Troy, New
York, states that hla child waa flight.
cned into dangerous lllnea by an IN.
iudloloua and improper punishment
Imposed by Miss Gilbert, school
teacher Of that place. and publishes
the following card In Che Troy Ddig
Tines OF the 10th inatl
10 ne Eilior qf ne Troy Times;
sial The case OF my little girl,
Clara Harrison. who now lloa In a oill'
zeal situation, on q bed of sickness,
having been made public. (Ihrough
no agency Of mlno) by Che city press,
| deem Tiny duty TO state the facts Of
the case.
And 20 begin, | will state that some
montna since a teacher Ia The Eighth
Ward School attempted 10 punish Cla.
"a for alleged Whispering. by making
her elt with the boye-saylng 20 the
child that ahe must stay with them,
and go out Of the school with them,
aud otherwise censuriug her 40 ~ to
produce great fright Clara came
homo weeping bitterly, had llta du'
ring lhe night, Rnd wan alok lor aomo
two weeks. then called on The
principal of the school, informing her
of lhe circumstance, and explaining
20 her that tho ohlld'a temperament
WIS Of lhat ecnailiyo nature that could
not bear severity, that IN future | de-
sired that word should be sent to me
when Clara failed to comply with Che
rules OF the schools or to got her les-
sons properly. and | woald see that all
was made right ! received tho as.
suranco that my request would be
checrfully compiled with.
As has been stated In che Times,
my little girl came homo from school
on Wednesday evening week after 8
o'eloof i happening TO be home aI
the time--and 1 was at once shocked
at her pale and languid appearance,
She lrcmbled. and was hardly able "a
speak. This was about an hou after
the dismissal Of school We paoiiied
her after time. 80 "a to converse
with the child. In answer 10 inqui
ries, she said the teacher Miss Gil
bert, had shut her up for not gcttina
her geography lesson, and threatened
to keep her locked up all night. She
asked me il | would not help her sci
her lesson. for il she did not have il
perfect in the morning Miss Gilbert
said she would lock her up al day.
promised to assist her. and requested
her to to take her supper. She refused
we soon ascertained that she was I'LL
and Ia an hour or so the child com
menced bleeding severely at the
mouth and nose; her mind wandered
and she has had but few luc id mo-
ments since. In her insane exclama'
tions she las dwelt almost entirely
upon the affair OF her punishment
piteously imploring Miss Gilbert 10 LEI
her go, and promising to get her les
son perfect That my child wa
frightened into this dangerous Illness
by Miss Gilbcrt's punishment an,
threatened punishment, | am fully sat
isfed. as is also her physician, DR.
Blatchford. l refer all who feel an in
terest in this case to him.
Miss Gilbert has committed a sad in
discretion in this matter; but believing
she intended no harm, did not des
ign making public any complain
against her. Since, however, in he
behalf. others have misrepresented tn,
case in the newspapers, l deem it m,
duty to make this statement of HI
true facts. 1t is stated that Miss Gil
bert did not leave the child; but shl
darkened the room and threatened 4
leave her there alone, and as Clar
stated on coming home, she did g,
outside, lock the door, and leave he
for a short time. And instead of tn
child being detained only fifteen min
utes, it was full hour after the dismis
sal of the school before Clara return
ed home. II is untrue that ever re
quested Miss Gilbert to compel tn
child to get her lessons. / never saw
that lady until after this sad occur
renee. My little girl was in perfec
health up to the period Of this fright
She is bright child. and learns fast
but cannot stand severity. Athome W
have endeavored to teach her truth
fulness. She believed she was to b
punished as threatened. The conse
quent fright has caused the alarmin
illness from which we hope and pra
she may recover. As an injured pa
rent, protest with you, Mr.. Editc
} against this mode Of punishment
7 And a misstatement of the facts i
: this case shall not shield the wron
from proper rebuke. Y ours. &C.,
5 Nov. 10, SO. j. HARRISON.