Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1891-05-07
Rev. j. Will jackson Explains.

Our public school teachers have rights,
inherent in their professional occupation,
which the community at large is bound to
respect and uphold. The public school, as
an institution peculiar to our government
and times, is an evolution of the popular
villa free and unrestrained expression of
the peoples choice; and so strong, deep
seated and comprehensive is the public in
terest in its welfare that any innovation into,
or obtrusion upon, it's legitimate sphere
must confront the bitter resentment of an
Indignant populace. This is as it ought to
be. The majesty of the law protectively
shields, and, thereby, strengthens the teach
er's every right Gf it is officially possible to
strengthen any right, and the teacher rests
securely in the lawful exercise of his author
ity, knowing that the law, which, in his case,
is the embodiment of public sentiment, is
his strong arm and support. An appropri-
ate and considerate use of lawful authority
seldom provokes disapprobation, or precip-
itates disturbance in the repose of commun-
tiles. The teacher should be let alone, at all
times, in the proper exercise of his authority.
No reasonable parent will object to the
teachers right to correct his child Such
objections do not materialize very often.
For twelve years l taught in the public
schools of this and my native State, Ohio
five of which were spent in the little frame
schoolhouse at the foot of Shepherd Noun
tain, with the lovingly remembered people of
Ironton and the Arcadia Valey-and, dur
ing that time, but one case of antagonism to
my rightful authority ever disturbed my
school Rnt Ub3yco and IF itu
the licentious abandonment to prejudice,
temper and brute fOrce-fn our public instl-
tutions of learning are not to be tolerated.
Where the law fails to remedy these evils
these gross impositions upon the rights of
| others and the sanctity Of the home, whether
perpetrated in the schools or out of them
the people will rise up in their sovereign
might against them. "This is a condition
that confronts us, not a theory" No man,
under ordinary circumstances, has the legal
right to take the law in his own hands. But
there may be point in the strength of our
human endurance where patience ceases to
be virtue. My child was brutaly assault
ed and suffered indignites which would
have aroused any father who loves his fam
lily. The school was purposelY dismiss ed,
detained alone In the room with him (the
teacher) and there beat and whipped her
until her clothes were saturated with blood
and her body disfgured. When the COM
mittee from the school board visited the
room blood was discovered on his hands,
from wrenching my daughters wrist. The
children, whom the inhuman wretch had
driven from the room, were down in the
schoolyard screaming "Murder! murder!
murder!"
publish this statement in a paper which
has wide crcu ation, and what is read at
Ironton will also be read, probably, by par
ties who know the facts as state them, and
l fear no contradiction from any source
when | say that |, nor the people of Sedalia,
have eyer yet learned of Mlnuie's offense.
If she did anything yiolatiye of rules, this
so-called Prof. II. o. Jones, the principal of
the school. has thus far failed to make it
known. 1t was, no doubt, secret prejudice
he nurtured against me, and he thought to
punish, abuse it out Of my daughter. Igave
him good, genuine, old plantation cowhid-
ing-that's all did. In the face of his I'M
PARALLEL brutality, the school board "exon-
Grated" him, after that went and e1coridt-
ed him. Some of his friends have circulated
all manner of falsehoods through the public
press, but am still here IN Sedalia, ready to
defend the right all ali hazards. make this
explanation because asked to do so by my
friends far and near. And there is no Sec
ton of the country in which [ would have
the facts of the difficulty known, more than
at Ironton. There / have spent years of la
Dor, and they were to me years of peace and
happiness. Every hand whether white or
colored) there extended me was warm with
the sentiment of good will. The day may
come when hall return to the quiet little
village of the Valley, and, making it my
home, be laid away to rest with its nnnum-
bered dead. j. WILL JACKSON.
J. n. Bishop is sole agent for the Oliver
Flows.