The Washington herald., 1912-03-30
THE PEOPLES FORUM
stands by Teacher.

| Editor The Washington Herald:
The article in The Washington Herald
Of Saturday. March 2. concerning Mrs.
Bridges. a teacher in Washington school.
and a truant boy whom she had occa-
sion to punish. has attracted much at
tention in this village, where Mrs. Bridges
formerly resided. ! have known her for
several years as a kind-hearted and very
capable woman, and can't believe. with
out further evidence. that she would do
any injustice to any pupil under her care.
In former years ! was a teacher in pub
lie schools in various localities, so l do
not feel that I am entirely ignorant of
the duties OF teachers or what should be
required of them. ] know that many
parents who do not and cannot govern
their children at home will believe every
story or report that they will bring
from school. and are the first, very likely.
to find fault with a teacher, knowing
nothing of the trials and tribulations
which every teacher. especially in the
lower grades. Is obliged to suffer. Such
parents. who cannot govern their own
children at home, seem to expect that a
teacher should govern without any
trouble a room full in schools.
would trust my own child to the
care Of Mrs Bridges in school without
question, and II she punished him l
should believe he deserved IT. 1t don't
hurt any bov, either mentally. morally.
or physically. to be brought to time
occasionally and learn that he has a
master or mistress
The prosecution Of Mrs. Bridges Is a
shame. and will have a bad influence
upon parents and pupils and schools, and
Will have the effect TO encourage trouble
some parents and pupils to defy the
teachers authority.
few years ago I knew an instance
where the parent had told the principal
Of a public school that his boy was un-
governable. and would play hockey
every school day in the week, and IL
he won't obey you. lick him until he
will" 1t was not long before the prin-
cipal had occasion to lick" the boy as
his father had advised. The licking was
done with a small riding whip. or raw
hide" which angered the father to the
point of prosecuting the teacher, as
Judge De Lacy advises. At the trial the
father admitted that he hald told the
teacher to lick the boy II he didn't
behave, but he did not suppose he would
do 1t with a barbarous rawhide. IF the
teacher had used hickory as big as an
OK whip" he said. II wouldn't have
barous rawhlde was too Insulting and
disgraceful for any American boy to
submit to-"
During the past nifty years my IN
terest in public schools has led me to
observe the effect of such interference
with the discipline in schools. II a par
ent has reason to believe that his or her
child has been improperly or unneces-
sarily punished. he or she should seek
an interview with the teacher to ascer-
tain all the facts in the case: for no
child In a public school Is a proper judge
ofueul the reasons which a teacher may
have for his or her management or con-
duct OF the school.
In this case of Mrs. Bridges. the su-
perintendent and all the principals and
teachers of Washington public schools
and the board of education should uphold
Mrs. Bridges in every attempt that may
be made TO lessen her authority or In
terfere with her discipline.
am for good discipline. either in FAM
Ily or school J. r 6INoNDA
RireraAle, Nd