The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-08-21
LICKED The WHOLE SCHOOL.

A group OF teachers who attended the
recent meeting OF the Northwest Mis-
sour Teachers association IN st. Joseph
were discussing In the hearing of local
newspaper man the great changes that
had taken place during the last few years
In the manners and customs prevalent
in the district or conntry schools. Much
OF the rowdyism that formerly was such
prominent feature IN some OF the
schools In remote settlements has entirely
disappeared. and. as rule, the pupils
are as we'll behaved and copduCt them
selves In as becoming manner 80 they
do In the citiee. one OF the teachers-a
Mr.. s. related an experience that he had
numbek OF years ago I'm one OF the
southern counties of Missouri The school
10 which he had been appointed for the
winter was one OF the toughest In tile
county The teacher during the previous
winter had been thrown bodily out OF
the school one day by the pupils and was
compelled 10 resign
Mr., S. resolved that nothing OF that
kind should occur during his administra-
ton, aud from the first ne ruled things
with aT iron hand. The school term was
pretty well advanced before some OF the
Older pupils entered, so that he had little
trouble at first. Some of these were strap
ping fellows, six feet in height short in
book learning. but long I'm physical
strength. For several weeks their behav-
Tor or was above reproach. One day Mr.. s.
went out 10 the coal shed. which stood
some distance from the schoolhouse TO
get a bucket OF coal When he returned
he found the school door had been locked
and about l5 of the argest and most pow
erful OF his pupils on the inside OF the
ufh box x.f,e
time. All of the teachers requests for ad-
mittance were received with shouts OF de-
risive laughter. and II looked for time
as If the days session had been abruptly
brought TO a close.
There were two locks on teh door "A
spring lock and one OF the common >vari-
ETY.. and IL occurred TO Mr.. s. that II the
pupils had only secured the spring lock
he was al right. for he had the key in his
pocket. II took him but a short time TO
put the key in the lock, and great was his
surprise when the door Yielded and he
was again upon the inside. The sudden
appearance OF Mr. s. among the rebels
disconnected them. as they were not ex-
pecting any such ending TO their sport
One OF the young men tried 10 brush past
but he was hurled to one side and the
others in the schoolroom were ordered to
their seats. The few scholars who still
remained on the playground were ad-
mitted 10 the schoolroom and the doors
locked Mr.. S. is a man OF powerful
physique and is as strong as the proven
bial OK. He determined then and there
TO put an end 10 any further insubordi-
nation lie asked why he had been locked
out and who had suggested II. There ives
no reply.
Mr. $. took OFF his coat laid II on a
chair and called out the pupils who had
been concerned In the uprising one at a
time. Most OF them came out promptly
TO receive the severest whipping they had
ever had in their lives. Several refused
TO come out, but they were numerically
whipped in their seats One strapping
young fellow. the bully OF the school,
tried TO mix II up with Mr.. s., but he re-
ceived a stunning blow I'm the fare that
sent him sprawling. When Mr.. s. got
through he had the meekest school In the
district and from that time on TO the
end of the term he had no trouble what
ever. He was given vote OF thanks by
the school directors and several OF the
parents OF the pupils whom he had 80
severely thrashed called at the school
room to thank HIM for the beat ting he had
given their offspring "Such things. said
Mr. s.. In relating the story "do not oc-
cur nowadays. The rough element In the
country schools has almost entirely dis
appeared and a large proportion OF the
district school teachers today are wom-
en."-kansas City Journal