Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-04-24
THE TEACHERS SIDE.
Mr.. Johnston Gives a Different YER
sion of the Mountain Case.
SAYS THE BOY TRIEDTO KNIFE HIM
ASchOoI Room Where BOwies and Reyolvers
We're Displayed.
HOW DISCIPLINE BAD TO BE KEPT UP

A yery bad boy who. it is said, tried to
stab his teacher with q sharp lead pencil,
furnishes an opportunity for discussion OF
the perennial question of corporeal punish
ment in the public schools. The scene OF
the remarkable occurrence was the Fourth
ward school No. 2, in Allegheny City, and
the time was last Friday.
Principal j. A. Johnston has been prin-
cipal of No. 2 school for two and a half
years, and is a mild-mannered gentleman of
about 80 summers. Sensational stories in
regard to his brutal punishment of boy
named John Mountain have been in exist
ence since last Friday, and he was seen last
evening at his home on Fremont street and
requested TO give his version of the castiga-
tion administered. His account of the affair
was as follows:
young Mountain has been a trouble
some pupil since have been principal of
the school. He is well grown, and stands
little taller than his teacher, Miss Josephine
Scott. He has been in three rooms in the
school, and has had to receive severe pun
ishment in every room.
KNIVES AND REvoLvERS.
zone year ago, while was Furnishing him
with rattan, he suddenly produced knife,
which had to take away from him. The
room Miss Scott teaches contains our most
troublesome pupils, and the force Of example
has to be maintained very often. One other
pupil in that room some time ago required
punishment, and while receiving il revolver
dropped out of his pocket. learned that his
brother had given it to the boy and told hlm 70
resist me should punish him for truancy. l
mention these things so the state OF anairs
may be clearly understood.
John Mountain was insubordinate on FIJI
day last, and refused to put his desk in order.
Miss Scott told him to sit up straight. She
placed her hand upon his shoulder to pull him
back in his seat and he made deliberate at
tempt to stab her in the face with sharpened
pencil. She lodged the blow and the pencil
gIazed her cheek. leaving a lead mark visible.
If she had not evaded the blow the boy might
have injured her terribly. She sent boy to
call me and meanwhile called Mountain out in
front of the DESKS She then came to my office
and related the attack upon her. went to
the room and as he refused point-6iack
TO punish him. With character
like his a cuff or slap will not answer.
FELL TO THE FLOOR.
'T administered sound fogging, and he wrig-
gled around and finally fell on the floor. did
not pick him up, but continued until thought
the punishment fitted the crime There
was nothing brutal in the fagellation, and
I at no time lost my temper. I
would do precisely the same thing
tomorrow in a similar case, and the School
Board knows all the particulars. In order to
protect the teachers in the school, have told
them never to scuffie with unruly boys, but al
ways send for me. In this case the teacher was
unit to cope with boy of that size and dispo-
sition. / have no regrets to offer, as my course
was temperate and well considered"
The father of the hoy, Mr.. ]. E Mountain,
of l9 Main street. Allegheny, took him to
Superintendent Dean yesterday. who made an
examination of the welts left by the rattan.
His legs were covered with black and blue welts
and bruises, indicating the very free use of the
instrument of punishment. In no place was
the skin broken. but the welts were very
numerous and ugly looking Mr.. Dean re-
ferred Mr. Mountain to the School Board,
which meets next week, and intimated that if
no action was taken the Anti-Cruelty Society
would take action against the principal and
teacher.