The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1906-04-07
A Statement by
Mr.. christopher
Calls Tribune Down for Critici-
sing Public SchOOIs-DOeS
Not Use Rubber Hose

4-4-'o6.
EDITOR CALDWELL TRIBUNE:
Dear Sir:-Acting upon your ex-
pressed willingness to correct false
statements which have lately ap-
peared in the editorial columns of
your paper relative to the public
schools of the city, take this OPP
portunity of using the courtesy
you so generously extend to me.
l very much deplore your action.
AS I stated in the recent interview
l had with you, must consider
your attacks as derogatory to the
interests of the community in gen.
eral and libellous to the schools in
particular. Assuming that your
statements were true, what did you
hope to accomplish by a public
attack of this kind? Our public
schools are open to investigation at
any time. They are governed by
board of six representative men,
whose authority is supreme. Any
complaint made to them would. be
promptly investigated, if brought
to them in the proper manner; and
if charges found true, the proper
remedy would be as promptly APP
piled.
In your first editorials you had
much to say about corporal punish
ment. You made statements that
pupils had been choked, that their
| flesh had been lacerated, that they
had been punished with rubber
hose. These statements are one
and all absolutely false. No stress
need be made upon the particular
you mention, viz: the rubber hose.
But l mention it here simply to
show that you are as inaccuracies
that statement as you are in the
others. No rubber hose has been
used in the public schools since I
have been connected with them.
am personally opposed to corporal
punt shment, but have used it on
certain occasions where I consid-
cred the case demanded it. My
teachers will testify that l have ad-
vised great caution in this regard.
! Upon my own initiation, the Board
adopted a rule which explicitly
prohibits corporal punishment on
the head or hands. See printed
rule, which l enclose herewith.
In your last editorial you say
among ether things that pupils are
"almost daily" called collectively
and individually fools, liars. thieves
and criminals" That mothers are
told that the English language has
no word or expression vile enough
to apply to their daughters. In
my interview 1 asked you UPON
what evidence you made such
statements. Your reply was that
"four or FIVE persons" told you so.
l also asked to what teacher your
!. charges applied. You answered
that it applied to me. For this last
information I thank you. The
public will now know that with the
exec ption OF the superintendent
our public schools have a corps of
teachers who do not employ such
language to any of their pupils.
I am therefore permitted to say
au thoritatively that your grave
charges are unfounded. respect
, fully ask that you take the proper
course to have this matter investi-
gated. l say most emphatically
,, your attacks have been wholly un-
= warranted and false. Even a very
, superficial investigation will con-
! vince you and any other fair. mind
ed person. So.
Thanking you for the courtesy
;, of this statement, am
!, Respectfully yours,
q CHP JSTOPHEP,