Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1890-05-21


was not cruel or inhuman, and she is by
the unanimous vote of the board exoner-
ated from imputations contained In the
article referred to.
GEO. E. DARLING,
o. G. HANSON, President.
Sec. pro tenn.
Now, before proceeding to make a
statement of facts in the above case,
we wish it to be distinctly understood
that there are not the same number
of men in this community for whom
we have higher regard than we
have for the gentlemen who compose
the board of education of this city.
In truth, we consider each one of
them our personal friend, and it is
not pleasant for us to be in position
where we deem it duty to criticise
their action. But it may not be out
of place for us to remind our readers
that the members of the board are
not so hedged about with infalliblllty
that they can do ne wrong, and that
they are just as liable to err as the
rest of we poor mortals.
The plain unvarnished facts in this
unfortunate case are these: The
Flatner child was ordered by the
teacher to sit on seat with the girls.
The little fellow did not want to, for
fear of being laughed at and plagued
by some of the other boys. He was
jerked violently across the aisle into
the seat. but Immediately moved to
the edge of the seat and refused to
sit as close to the girls as the teacher
desired. For this offence he was
struck on his hands with long,
heavy ferule. Still he continued to
move to the edge of the seat. Then
the teacher struck the child's hand
on the back of it and across the
knuckles, until it became badly sWol-
len and inf1icting an injury that may
become permanent. The child re-
manned in school until noon, and at
tended school in the afternoon, for
fear of being whipped if he failed to
do so, although his parents preferred
to have him remain at home. This
was on Monday, the 10Th inst. Since
that time the child has suffered severe
pain in the joints of his hand, and
the parents refuse to have him attend
school so long as the present teacher
has charge of the room where he has
been pupil. Now, we contend that
for so triffiing an offence-if it can
really be called an Offence-the pun
ishment was cruel and brutal. And
further, that a teacher who loses her
temper, or in other words, ''gets mad,
when Furnishing child, has no right
to occupy the position of a school
teacher. Kindness, not cruelty, is
what teachers should possess; and it
would be we'll for every teacher, and
more especially for one who claims to
be the follower of Him who spake as
man never spake, to keep in mind the
words of her Divine Master: "Suffer
little children to come unto Me, and
forbid them not" If these loving
words were placed upon the walls of
every school room in the land, and
their teachings more strictly obeyed
than is the principle conveyed in these
more cruel words: "Spare the rod and
spoil the child" we would not have
little children driven from school by
the cruel treatment of those who are
employed to so train them that they
may grow up to be good men and
women and blessing to society.
But it is complained that we used
harsh and brutal words in condemn
ing the teacher complained of.
Granted. We hold that the punish
ment inflicted OH the child was brutal,
and we believe it best to call things
by their right name, keeping in mind
the words of Russell Lowell, that ga
lie may keep its throne whole age
longer by skulking behind some fair
seeming name." Yes, but such Ian
guage should not be applied to q
woman, says one. We have as much
respect for a woman as any other
man, but still the fact remains, that
cruelty is cruely, whether inflicted by
man or woman. And it matters not
to us whether the parents of children
occupy an humble or an exalted posi-
ton in society, the children are en-
titled to the same treatment in school.
But it is needless to comment fur
ther, only to remark that now pre-
cedent has been established, that q
teacher in the schools of this city is
perfectly justified in pounding and
hruising child to the extent that the
little Flatner child was, of course the
pounding and bruising will go on.
|. The TRIBUNE, however, will claim
the right to tell its readers of these
acts of violence whenever they oc-
cur, being as much interested in the
success of our public schools and pay
ing as much for their support as some
of the members of the board. The
TRIBUNE is not in the withdrawing
business. If it was, it would have
taken the policy side of this matter,
which would have been to flatter the
teacher and condemn the boy for dis.
obedience and q willful violation OF
| the rules of the school.
Meals and lunches at all times.
81 meal tickets for So at the CluE
| Restaurant.
Dyspepsia causes depraved blood
which, In time, affects every organ