Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-10-08
THE SCHOOL TROUBLE.

Specially Reported for the Daily Globe
THE SCHOOL TROUBLE.
The Board Transfers the R0sser Boys to
another Sc1ooI--Thus Conden,,as,,g the
fiction of miss PilIsbu3y--AL Further
Proceedings Dropped.
The school board held a special meeting
at the Office Of D. Morrison yesterday fore
noon for the purpose of enquiring into the
alleged cruel and inhuman punishment adj
ministereo to little son of Gen. Rosser by
Miss Pillsbury, principal of the Madison
school,
There were present Messrs. Morrison,
HUM, Gale, Young austin and Simpson, of
the board, Gen. Rosser and his attorney,
Hon. 3. M. Wilson, Prof. Tousley, superin-
tendent of schools, and representatives of
the newspapers.
Mr. Gale opened the subject by enquiring
what was the present status of the case.
Mr. Morrison replied that Miss P1llsbury
had conceded that she had done wrong, and
punished the boy beyond the limits of good
Judgment. She had no objection to trans
fer of Gen. Rosser's boys to another school
if it was deemed best by the board.
Mr.. Young thought if Miss Pillsbury was
IOoNty w dShI1OWlOuSO CLdV oAo 11oO SsOAAO
wrong, he did not see as anything further
could be done. If the board was satisfied
she had done wrong he was in favor of
censuring the teacher and transferring the
boys. He could not see any good which was
to arise by careful investigation of the facts
when the teacher appeared to concede all
that was charged.
Mr.. Simpson could not see any use in
lengthy examination Of witnesses when
there was nothing i'll dispute.
Gen. Rosser stated that all he asked was
simply that his boys be transferred to some
other school. His case had been fully pre-
sented, and he could only add that he was
in no wise seeking for revenge upon any one
only asking that his children should be re-
moved from the school where one of them
had been harshly treated.
Mr.. Young moved that Gen. Rosser's two
boys be transferred from the Madison to
either the Washington or Jefferson school,
whichever in the judgment of the superin-
tendent was least crowded.
Supt. Tousley thought he could accomo-
date the boys in either the Jefferson or
Washington school, though the fourth and
fifth grades were crowded. While on the
subject he would say that he hoped the board
would not remove the children from the
Madison school. Such action would cause
the impression to go abroad that Miss Pills
bury had been really cruel and inhuman in
her treatment of the boy. Miss Pillsbury had
been teacher here for several years and had
borne most excellent reputation. TO
transfer the boy would in his judgment es-
tablish a bad precedent. He learned that
the lady done all in her power to right the
wrong she had done, and he thought that
should prove sufficient. At worst it was
Simply an act of indiscretion, and while she
is first class teacher, this was the only act
that could be brought against her. She had
apologized and done all in her power to
right the wrong, and it seemed to him this
was all that should be demanded.
Mr.. Wilson said it would be we'll to look
the matter squarely in the face. The boy,
when he committed the alleged offense, was
not under the Jurisdiction of the teacher,
and she, in Furnishing him SO numerically,
had committed not an indiscretion, but a
crime. She had violated the laws of the
land and while Gen. Rosser has no dis
position to punish either her or the brutal
ianitor who aided her, he did demand that
his children be removed from the school, and
would insist upon that much Of concession
on the part of the superintendent and the
board.
Mr.. Gale said he was not opposed to the
transfer, and should vote for it, as probably
the best way out of an unpleasant predica-
ment. But he could not let the matter pass
without saying a word for Miss Pillsbury.
The teacher has jurisdiction over the pupil
to and from the school, and he thought she
was justified in administering whipping,
though may be she was too severe. The boy
was a bad one.
Gen. Rosser-That is not true.
Mr.. Gale-At any rate he is represented,
and he thought there was some excuse for
the teacher, though the punishment was
severe.
Mr.. Wilson denied the imputation that
the boy was bad in any sense. If that is to
be the plea for Defense why is not the other
side here to make their complaint? We are
prepared to prove, by the admissions of Miss
Pillsbury herself, that the boy is not only
not bad, but is regarded by her as good
boy.
Mr.. Young thought there was no doubt
but the whipping was entirely too severe for
the alleged offense, and he should vote to
transfer. He thought that was as little as
Gen. Rosser could ask, and he should vote
for it, though it did carry an implied CEN
sure on the offending teacher.
The vote was then taken and the transfer
was made without dissenting voice.
This probably ends the matter so fas as
cerned, and il it has the effect of notifying
both superintendent and teachers that merci-
less punishments in the public schools will
not be tolerated by the people, it will be we'll.
1t is too late in the nineteenth century for
the brutal treatment of children,-and this
was case of inexcusable brutality. Evi-
IDENTIFY the boy was pounded in the heat of
passion, and the woman Gas she afterwards
confessed) had no i.fea how hard
she was striking. But this amounts to
no excuse, as people of ungovernable
tempers are not usually supposed to
make frst-class teachers. Mercy and gen
tleness and a real affection for the wayward
little fellows who are entrusted to their care
are supposed to be the chief elements neces-
sary in the composition of school teacher
But the fact is, that the public should awake
and forbid by statutory enactment the beast
ly practice of fogging in the public schools
1t is relic of barbarism, and is always liza
bic to be overdone, as in this instance; while
all will admit that the practice is brutalizing
Let the teachers bear in mind that there
is a merciful public sentiment lying dor
mant, but ready to burst into flame at
moments warning if they undertake to USE
for tyranny the power which is entrusted tt
their hands for good
TEE COURTS.
District Court.
Before Judge Young,
A motion was fled to strike out certai,