Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-09-01
LIttIe Children al School.

I am IN receipt OF letter from a farm
er's wife, residing In Georgia, who sent
her nine-year-old boy TO public school
near her home.
Some large boys in a mischievous mood
caught up two little fellows by the heels
and hands and swung their bodies vio-
lently together. The collision was nearly
fatal to her child. His hip joint was so
badly hurt that the little fellow has been
under the care of skilled surgeons for
months. Although a year has elapsed the
child has just begun 10 hobble little on
clutches. His health is fatally impaired
and he Is a cripple for life.
He is unable to go TO school and she is
too poor TO hire a teacher for him
She asks me 10 inquire If she has any
redress for the wrong inflicted on her
child or II she can secure pension for
the boy. that will enable him TO get an
education. and I am sure 1 do not know.
/ am no lawyer, but 1 think there should
be some requirement somewhere 10 pro-
tect small children from plays or pranks
where they may be injured for life.
That rude treatment was performed no
doubt By thoughtless grown up boys, VINO
seem to be infected with a desire 10 tease
and annoy younger ones. Possibly they
We're much astonished and panied at the
suffering thus inflicted on the little boy,
but their pain and establishment Will not
cure the cripple or set him back TO the
place he occupied before they maltreated
him in a spirit Of mischief. The injury
Is lifelong for that child. He is crippled
in mind as well as body because he is
debarred from school attendance and his
overworked mother is alarmed at his loss
as well as his suffering. his deprivation
and his MANNED existence.
II is easy to conclude that the teacher
should have forbidden such teasing
FRANKS and the large boys should not have
been allowed TO indulge in such cruel
sports with smaller pupils. There should
be some regulation as to the time when
teacher becomes responsible for the good
behavior OF the pupil and also when he OF
she fs relieved OF such responsibility.
II IS a very serious question in this con-
nection. because an immortal being has
been warped and disabled. forever by
somebody's manifest neglect There Is an
implied understanding that the child
passes from the parents authority when
in the school-rOom-certainly after II be-
comes subject to school regulations and
requirements. Unless the teacher is also
required TO protect smaller pupils from
the tyranny OF older ones there is mani
fest risk in starting any child 10 school
TO any teacher.
This letter has aroused many thoughts
which are vital TO a child's well being
when Il is not protected by it's parents
care and indeed cannot be.
When I was a little girl was boarded
away from home one year In one or the
best families that Georgia ever knew,
good Christian people. l had a musical
streak in my makeup so was sent TO
Oxford and placed in a literary school
with liberty 70 attend a music teacher.
Everybody was good TO me; everybody
seemed to love me. and some Of my
sweetest iife-memories cluster around
that Oxford school and its associations
when my heart was so young and tender.
The big boys fixed up a swing, one
that went high when a strong girl or boy
ran under the child in the swing and
sent IL aloft in the air. I was afraid Of
high swinging. nevertheless was crazy
10 swing little ways.
Promises were made that I should not
be pushed high when my time came, but,
alas. a big boy who was nevertheless
good friend 10 me. usually, decided to
cure me OF being afraid of the swing.
Running behind me he sent me flying
and was not only paralyzed with fear,
but made deathly sick, as 1 swung out In
spite Of myself.
One OF the girls saw my white face
and closed eyes as I came back in the re-
bound. and thoughtfully caught the ropes
and rescued me. The next time I would
faiting when they laid me on the grass
and screamed for the teacher TO come at
once to help me.
The boy was ever 50 sorry, and was
every so sorry for him, when the teacher
scolded him, but have often thought of
the narrow escape made and / so far
away from my parents.
Some regulation rule or requirement
should be laid on all teachers who as
sumo 70 teach. especially 10 protect their
pupils from such risks and dangers.