The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-10-30
VAST D0NELEGALLY
Question of Regularity of Miss
Ayres' Dismissal.
COMMITTEE NOT INSTRUCTED.
Director Colkett Defends His Action.
but the Board May Reconsider
Allen Peasess Pugnacity.

and a number of communications have
been received by the board from friends of
the young lady IN reference 10 the matter
Some doubts are expressed as TO the legal
lily OF the investigating committee which
went ahead with the examination before
the matter had been referred 70 Il BY a
regular meeting OF the beard. The facts
are that last Thursday a meeting was 10
have been held, but only Messrs- King
and Colkett being present there was no
quorum Nevertheless these two members
constituted themselves a committee 10 in
vestigate, though the board had not re-
ferred the matter 10 them. and rendered
a report next day. on which the order of
the board dismissing Miss Ayres was
based. Ii is claimed that the proceedings
leading up TO the order were decidedly ir-
regular.
Another strong point being raised in the
teachers favor is the record of the boy
FOR being quarrelsome. Messrs. Coikett
and King still maintain that they acted
according 10 law and have nothing TO re-
tract They also say that Miss Ayres has
made no effort that they know of TO be re-
instated and has filed no application.
In an interview with Post-Intelligence
reporter yesterday Mr.. Colkett said: II
have but little to say ia regard to the mat
ter. Miss Ayres taught my little girl and
] personally bear her no luminosity, but as
"a
bent upon me to act at once in the case of
young Pease. On the evening of the night
he was whipped his mother called on me
at my house and told me all that had hap
pened and requested me to do something
I'm the matter. There was to be a meet
ing of the board the next day, and / said
i would bring il up at that time. The next
afternoon, Thursday, the board was TO
meet to consider the burning of the school
books by the board of health. but Mr..
King and myself were the only members
present We talked over the whipping and
made up our minds, as members of the
board TO investigate the affair. Before |
went to the office of the board / telephoned
Clerk Ogden to request Prof. Barnard 10
have Miss Ayres present at the meeting,
which was to be held at 2 o'clock. At that
meeting Miss AyTes and the boy told their
versions TO King and myself, and from
other statements picked up, we concluded
Miss Ayres was guilty of an infraetion of
the law. and should be punished. We drew
UP a report and submitted IL TO DR..
Churchill the next day, with the result
that Miss Ayres was discharged
II know that hundreds of children have
been slapped in the face during my term
of Office bat this is the first case that has
been brought direct to the boards attsn-
ton, and we decided to make an example
of it,
eating committee was legal, inasmuch as
1t was not regularly appointed by ma
jority of the board was asked by the re-
porter.
we did not claim to be a regularly ap-
pointed committee. We acted as members
of the board
do you think il was legal them
II don't know about that. i know the
final action of the board In discharging
Miss AyreS was lacaI''
Mr. King was seen, but had nothing 10
say in the matter Anything he had TO
say would be before the board.
The following communication has been
addressed to the board by Eugene Chaplin,
the Pike street merchant:
MY three boys attend the Cascade
school, Robert, Earl and Edwin Chaplin,
and listening this morning to their talk Of
good WILL good wishes and sad regrets for
the parting with their teacher, Miss Ayres.
inspired this letter 10 you. / do not know
the teacher, therefore have no reason TO
speak kind word for her. but when all
three of my little boys, G. and i years OF
age, talk so earnestly and regretfully at
the leaving of one OF whom they speak of
as the best of teachers, don't you, as school
directors, think that possibly this humble
tribute from little ones may mean some
thing? To err is human: to forgive. d.
vine"
on the matter was sent 70 the Post-lntel-
ligencer Monday, but is still timely:
Seattle Oct. =. 1896.
To the Editor: With your kind permits
sion for space, a few comments are here
with given upon the case OF the teacher
who has been discharged from her posi-
ton in the Cascade public school for hav-
ing unduly inflicted corporal punishment
on one OF her pupils.
The matter is a sad one from any point
OF view. Inasmuch as the child suffered
from an unmerited or excessive punish
ment, ones sympathy and regret are
spontaneous and unqualified. Tender and
plastic childhood has its rights. which
naturally take precedence in the mind and
heart. The belief that a teacher who
could cruelty punish a child Is thereby
untitled for her important charge would
undoubtedly receive almost universal
sanction.
The testimony published gives rise TO
doubt IN regard TO the facts Of the case.
II il be true. as has been stated in your
columns that the boy Old not go home for
hours after receiving the punishment and
leaving the school room, what happened
10 him during that interval; and why IL
injured, did he not 1T once go 10 his pa
rents7 Waving the doubt shus suggested,
other considerations appeal to an inter-
ested public. The duty of the public
some measure the lack manifest IN many
inStanccs) of moral training due from pa
rents adds much TO the responsibility and
difficulty Of her task. Sometimes she is
terribly tried in the effort 20 bring under
wholesome discipline unframed and well
Gus children Good order IN the school
room is considered Of prime importance.
often with room of over forty pupils.
with little opportunity 30 acquire special
personal Influence over them as in6fyfd-
uals. q would be strange II a teacher. En-
coursged 20 do herself the trying part OF
inflicting punishment should not occs-
sionally he found derellct IN the matter OF
Judgment and self-control Here occurs
a question in judicial equity. IL a young
woman previously considered competent
for teaching should so far have lost her
standing a. 20 inflics an unmerited chas-
tisement should she therefore be tried
publicly. sunmsrliy discharged and final
II her loss OF place be published TO the
worid9
Another consideration affeces more d.
rectlv the interests ~ the puhiic schools.
sal OF a teacher likely - make q wrong
impression ard lead 20 wrong Inference
on the part OF the younE7 One excellent
feature OF our public schools ls that A
hsishea authority which lies
hack OF the teacher makes Itself felt as A
power IN the government o. children and
youth IN comparison 70 which The re-
sources az the private school are feeble.
The teacher IS sustained by higher au-
thority. and as much as possible through
favorf-g circumstances as well as from
her own atness 20 exercise Il. should her
personal authority be INDICATED 10 the
ot TIE pupil
MAREORA DE Voc.
Young Pesse. the cause OF all ths trou-
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