The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1892-06-17
TROUBLE IN A SCHOOL DISTRICT.

School district No. 1O3, Rapidan,
has an unfortunate muss upon it's
hands, eliminating Friday evening in
the arrest of the teacher, Miss Edith
Kinney, whose home is in West Man
kato. The trouble started week
ago Thursday, when the teacher had
trouble in getting the eight-year-old
daughter of Wilbur Stratton to pro-
nounce the word lend" the child per-
sisting in pronouncingit "ind." either
from sheer stubborness or from some
other reason. The teacher became
out of patience and upon dismissing
the school, locked the door and pun
ished the child severely, using a ferrule
with such effect that the little girls
back from her neck to her heels was
mass Of discoloration, bruises and
bloodstains. This caused Mr.. STRAIT
ton to look into the matter and much
hard feeling was caused. County Su-
perintendent Mrs. Stevens visited the
district in order to shield the teacher
and found the facts to be as stated
above. The girls parents desired that
the teacher be arrested at once, but
through Mrs. Stevens influence, this
was not done and upon her advise the
teacher made settlement with Mr..
Stratton, paying him $40 as damages.
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to give up her school, and this she
promised or partly promised to do, it
is said. The school trustees held a
meeting and sustained the teacher.
Mrs. Stevens laid the matter before
State Superintendent Kiehle and has
received a telegram from him direct
ing her to revoke Miss Kinney's GER
tificate, but she has hesitated to do so.
Miss Kinney decided to complete her
three months contract, having al
ready taught two months. Mr.. STRAIT
ton engaged w. R. Geddes and has
proceeded against the teacher as
above stated. The case will come be-
fore Judge Porter. Mrs. Stevens has
secured the legal advise Of Lorin
Cray, and the teacher has retained
Pau & Young, and the case is likely
to be fought to the end.
Miss Kinney is young lady OF
eighteen or twenty years. very pleas
ant, and in appearance the last one
who would be suspected of such bru-
tality as she is charged with. She
has taught three full terms of school
and is therefore experienced. She adj
mitted to Mrs. Stevens that her tenn
per got little the best of her. She
says that the child was not injured in
any way by her punishment. DR.. An
drews has examined the child and
will be an important witness in the
case. Miss Kinney has many friends
in the district who are supporting her
and many Mankato friends also hope
that she will clear herself.
1t is an unfortunate case for all con-
cerned. Mrs. Stevens has acted sole
ly for what she considered to be the
best interests of the school. She has
been subjected to some criticism
which seems to be undeserved. What
she did was in the line of her duty,
and it does not appear that she ex-
ceeded it in any way.
Miss Kinney was brought to the
city Friday evening by the sheriff and
was allowed to remain with her pa
rents.
The reason given why the child
could not pronounce the word 'end"
correctly is that she is from Irish pa
rentage and has been accustomed to
the ''i'' sound of &C."
Miss Kinney was before the court
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