Arkansas weekly mansion., 1883-12-01
SCHOOL BOARD.
An Interesting Meeting Held Last
Saturday Evening, at Which
DECISIVE ACTION WAS TAKEN IN SUP
PORT OF PROF. ISH.


PORT OF PROF. 1sH.
Called to order at 8 o'clock by
President Kramer. Directors Ed
gerton, Fones, Cohen and Rector
were present.
Secretary Edgerton submitted
a valuable report showing that the
net amount required for teachers
for the balance Of this year is
$2O,4 ,449. To meet this expendi-
ture the Board has in the teach
ers' fund $16,?56. All the funds
belonging to the public schools of
this city or that will be available
for this year are now in the hands
of the county treasurer. The
building fund amounts to $1O,98O.
Six thousand, one hundred and
seventy dollars of this fund has
been expended, leaving a balance
of $48O9, making a probable sur
plus of both funds of $716.
The collection last year was
$50, ,456; this year it will reach
$37 ,861. The increase of pupils
and the improvement of schoo.
rooms to be made will cause next
years schools to cost $8,O75 more
than will be required for this year,
being $2,O75 greater than the ex~
pected revenue.
Superintendent Rightsell made
his monthly report, which was re-
ceived and filed. His suggestion
upon printing rules for the gov
ernment OF teachers and pupils
wa5 adopted and the rules ordered
printed.
| A number of bills were allowed
and ordered paid.
| Director Cohen read report of
the punishment of Teacher Ish IN
j Justice Chamberlain's court for
whipping one of his pupils. A
small peach tree switch was ex-
hibited, with which the teacher
struck the child four raps across
the shoulders. She is little col
ored girl named Mamie Reddick.
She is an orphan, living with her
uncle, Henry Reddick, a colored
!. man, who claims that ''no negro
t is fit to teach school, lsh is a
, colored teacher, who has given
, perfect satisfaction heretofore. On
the 18th of November Mamie was
very unruly and Ish changed her
seat several times and adminis-
tered the usual punishment used
to shame the pupils into obedi-
ence. These did not subdue her
She became fretful and very ugly,
when he called her up and gave
her four raps with the little peach
tree switch. On the 18th Of No
vcmber he was arr estcd upon a
warrant sworn out by Henry Red
dick before Justice Chamberlain,
charging him with assa lit and
battery. The Prosecuting Attor-
ney was called in to prosecute the
case in the name of the state. Ish
was surprised, believing that he
had only done his duty and was
willing for the investigation to
be made. He agreed with the
Prosecuting Attorney to submit
the case upon the evidence ct the
marks made upon the child's per
son. Her shoulders and arms
were exposed, showing two large
black welts on her right arm,
just below the shoulder, about
tour inches long and two smaller
ones upon her left arm. Ish ac-
knowledged that he struck her
four raps and upon this evidence
the Justice held that though
teacher has the right to correct a
pupil in moderation this was Il
case of severity. The teacher was
fined $40 and the cost, amounting
in all to S24. The Schco Board
believed that the small switch
used could hurt no one. The trial
was two days after the punish
ment was inflicted and they felt
it their duty to see that the teach
er had justice in this matter The
Committee on Teachers and
Schools was instructed to employ
a lawyer and take an app zeal.
The public schools viii close on
the 21st of December and take a
recess of two weeks, beginning
school on the TIA of January,
1884.
Adjourned to meet 20th inst.