Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1858-02-16
lPo' the lnlslllEenssr.l
scraps from a TSaehsr's DIary-NO. 3.

The next school was engaged in, was in a
district situated on two rOads-ths SchoOl.hOuse
half way between them; the roads one mile
apart; and whatever the people on one rnad
would do, the others would oppose, right or
wrong: il made no difference, for there was al.
ways more or leSS contention. had been Of
ten solicited to teach this school, but always
refused until now. Ny success in teaching
caused me to think that could manage this, or
any other school, without any trouble; but
was mistaken. ~ prophet Is without honor IN
his oWn country" and SO was !, as in this dis.
trict was my home; and what the scholars would
not do, the parents could accomplish. For three
weeks got along finely; but on the fourth, the
trouble came. One day At recess, boy four.
teen years Of age, threw some stones against the
schOOl.hOuSe When recess was over, ! made
inquiry to know who threw the stones. After
finding out who threw them, | asked the boy
why he did 80. He said hi, father told him 10
do ~ he pleased, and he would throw stones
when lie pleased and where he pleased. tried
to reason with him, telling him that he must
obey the rules Of school. lie cursed INC; the
more talked TO him, the louder were his cur
SeS and abuse. told him that he must stop
using such language. lie said his father told
him to curse re il went to correct him in any
way; aud il whipped him. his Ether said he
would whip me. There was Stumper. | took
the lad up to my desk, he still cursing and
swearing. tried TO reason with hint was
no use; tried to shame him, and he laughed
at me.
Poor pedagogue. What was to dol wa,
the query Of my mind. resolved to conquer
MIN, and sent for whip. With an oath he
dared me to whip him; il did would DC whip
ped. ! told him should do my duty; that he
must know his place. lie was going on with his
abuse; told him to take of his coat, he sworc
he would not; ] told him il mnst come of, and
logged him severely, His older brother was
by my side before was aware Of his leaving
his seat; in hurry PIT him back, telling him
II he left his seat again would fog him too.
The boy seeing that he would have no help, he
pulled his coat off. then talked to him, reas.
oning with him, telling him that was manager
here, not his father, and he must obey the rules
OF school, &c. Afler reasoning the best knew
how, told him to put on his coat, and 60 to
his seat. His brother lefl his seat To knock me
down with the poker so he testified. This took
place on Friday forenoon, and the boy staid at
school all day, and went a rAccoon hunting that
night. On Sunday there was all manner Of
gossip, aud heard there was warrant fOi me.
On Monday was visited at my school BY
constable, carrying club, las they said l was
grit and would hght,) who told me must 20
with him to the EsqrS. After taking him home
and getting our dinners, We proceeded to the
seat Of justice, finding there in waiting, the
boys father, with auuUber Of witnesses, and
an old pettifoger called Uncle Pete, who was
noted not for his knowledge of Swan or Black
stone, but for his blackguardiSm, all ready tn
condemn me. | was charged with assault
and battery on the boy at school Ny plea
was mot guilty The boys father asked the
Il ! did not whip his boy at school. | told him
/ did, and would do il again under similar cir.
cumstanceS, for he deserved it. told the Esq.
| would be ready for trial the next day. Old
Pete swOre, but twas no use, they lad to 90
home, and come again.
The directors, when employing me, told me
must keep order in school, fIhad 10 use rough
means TO do so summoned them and few
Of the largest Of the scholars for witnessed All
the teachers in the township dismissed their
schools and attended the trial The trial came
on, the witnesses were examined, and Uncle Pete
a. usual in such cases tried his band at black.
guarding, blnfing of witnesses, etc, but it was
no go-ths decision was mo cause Of action. +"
Some Of the teachers said, after hearing the
testimony, that il ,they had had that boy to
deal with he wSuld not have come of so well
as he did. The boys father had the cost to
pay, aud paid for the cider for the whole
crowd, opponent, witnesses, spectators and
petiFoger. So ended my law suit went on
with my school, but had no more use for the
rod, for the school was easily nanaged taught
until Spring and was solicited to teach their
next winters school, but declined That was
the first and only time ever was arrested, and
it was proven, and decided, that Ibid no more
than my duty, yet the ye1ution Of that law suit
was a severe actlition, and often regret that |
undertook that school, but no doubt ''all was
for the best."
A. H. De-. r.. 10. n u 1880. n