The daily gazette., 1875-06-24
FIRST EDITION
The R0d In the Schools.

Foh fUNisulNo CHILD-THE TEA
CHER NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. MADE
IN THE sQUIRR's OFFICE.
A case was heard before Lsauire
Waston, last evening, which will
prove of interest to both teachers and
scholars.
Mrs. Wilhelmira Slocum, Prlncipal
of Public School No. 10, had a hear.
Ing on tho charge of severely punish.
ing little girl, a scholar in the school.
named Hannah Curry. The suit was
brought by her father, John Curry.
living at No. S06 West Sixth street
The whipping occurred Wednesday.
18th inst
Quite q large number of persons as
sembled in the 'Squire's office to wit.
ness the events of the hearing. includ.
ing the defendant and plai9tiff. the
Superintendent of the Schools. Messrs
Lewis Zebley and Jacob F. Sharp, the
Visiting Committee of School No. 10.
and other members of tho Board of
Education.
The first witness, Jennie Emerson, a
pupil in the school, testified to seeing
the teacher administer i've strokes Of
a rattan four on the shoulders of the
defendant aDd ono on the arm.
Hannah Curry, the punished child,
an Intelligent looking girl, next told
her story amid sobs and tears. Her
account of the affair was substantially
as follows:
As the Catholic Church bell rang for
the noon hour, Hannah and Tary
Doyle indulged In little conversation
relative to the correct standing Of the
school clock, which Mary Doyle said
was ten minutes TOO fast. For thus
talking Hannah. was called up by the
principal and 1ogged. She testified
that The teacher first struck &c on
the hand, with raitau. orA 49,, \
the sbouldrt striking .far
Us to raise W u.s.
Mrs, Slocum here said that Hannah
was a very respectful girl, and subsc.
4uent TO the whipping had told some
OF the olhcr scholars that lad she
known her father would take b part
she would have torn down the teach.
ers waterfall.
MI. John CuiIy testified that 90 the
dtay OF the whipping his daug ghter came
home crying bitterly, and said she had
oeen whipped at school. Also, that
She had three blisttred welts on her
shoulder and ona on her wrist.
AoDie Davis, another pupil al the
school, testified that on the Monday
1oiioWing the day Of the whipping
Mis-. Slocum asked Hannah what she
had said about her, and that Hannah
was so imprudent that the teacher told
her TO leave. Witness also said that
the pupils often deserved chastisement
and soine ought to get more than they
DO.
Mrs. Slocum remarked that the last
witness was o respectfully spoken.
well behaved giral, and never deserved
a whipping.
George W. Vernon. editor of the
Republican, testified that Mr.. Curry
called at his office with the little girl,
and showed him the welts on her
shoulder and wrist, In his opinion.
the punishment was cruel, whether
administered by parent or teacher.
Mrs. showalter testified that she
saw welts ON Hnanah Curry's shoulder
nix inches long, and one on the wrist
as big as her finger; shs would not pun
ish dog in that manner.
Mrs. Slocum here remarked that
Hannah refused to hold out her hand
properly and thus received blow on
her wrist. She thought the whipping
was very light, as any rattan, or even
Il willow switch will raise a welt.
Mr., Jacob Sharp, Of School No, 1E
Committee, was of the opinion that
the Child had not been punished with
unnecessary severity. He thought
Judicious corporal punishment was
advisable, and was much better than
to have tho children running about the
streets,
Mr.. Zebley, the other member of the
committee, coincided in Mr.. Sharpe's
views, in a short speech.
Mrs. Slocum also spoke denying the
charge Of favoritiam, on her part, to-
ward certain scholars, which had been
implied,
After considerable rambling dis
cussion between the witnesses, which
the Couit permitted for the sake of
justice and fair play, Esquire Watson
gave his opinion. He said as the rules
OF the Board allowed corporal punish
ment, the charge of assault and bat
terry could not be sustained He then
admonished Mrs. Slocum to be more
careful in the future as to how she
whipped scholars, and dismissed the
case
MIDpLETowN AGRICULTURAL FAIR
Inc Board OF Managers are very busy at