A WOMAN WHO “STOOD UP” TO THE SCHOOL BOARD.
(From the Newcastle Chronicle.) On Wednesday fifty-seven people w’.ro summoned at the -uneerland police court, at the instance of the - underland School Board, for neglecting to tend their children to school. Among them was George Cape, tailor, 46 Wax man street, Monkwearmouth. He did not appear, hut was represented by hia “ better half,” a smart, intelligent-looking young woman, who carried a child in her and “stood up herself” against the combined forces of the Bench and the School Board wilhsomeaddress and much volubility. Mr Johnson, the truant officer, said the girl, who was aged eleven, had attended only six out of 252 times daring the last six months. The clerk to the school board said he had received from Mrs Cape, a letter in which sho said she was “ Oblidge to keep 'rtliurina at home to nurse the babey for I have no one else and do other things she is near 12 years now and is a Very good schooler for a girl a girl does not require so much schooling as a boy she is a Very Caney riter a Very good reder she can take up the paper and reed all most any thing there is she takes a delight in laming when ever she has a bit time she as the slate & Book in her baud so I don’t see why you should truble yourselef so much about her I will send her to school when I Can spair her and when I Carnt I will keep her at home if the bord does not approve of that they must pay me a servant’s wadges for a girl to nurse the babey and do my work when I have to be busey with,the bissisness if the bord will agree tu this I will send Arthurina to school reglur if nob I will have to keep her at home when I want her she was to lurn house work as well as schooling witch you know a girl wants and a boy does not and I hope if you should truble me aga<n you will send a purson that knows how to Lome sively to my dor for the last was Very unsevel and if he had not droped it I would have kicked him from the dor if you make good scholars you make youaeles wifes if a girl does not lurn house work before she is 13 how mutch will she lurn after you talk of Mingent being a free Country I dont think it will be free mutch longer when you Comple peeple to send girls to school till 13 if you do that you should Compie them not to marev till they are 26 so thay know hou to do house work propley wat with Vaccination, and school bord I think it is a money making thing they comple people to have Chreldren Vaccinated [ Lan prouve what I say I have ad a Child fltriley murdered throught the Vaccination. -• From Artburina Smith’s mother.—Yours, S, Cape.” Mrs Cape—She’s at schoel now. ihe child was bad, and not properly better to go to school. She was so much out of health. Her father has been bad these two months,' and Mr Johnstone was very impertinent when he came to my door, The Magistrate’ Clerk : Rut you say in the letter that you kept her at home to mind the baby. Mr Booth : And that she is agi od scholar, Mrs Cape : So she is ; she can lake up the papers and almost read anything in them, and she must learn housework as well us schooling.—. The Mayor ; So you say in this letter, but if you had gone to school till you earned to spell it would have been of great advantage to you.-Mrs Cape: Mr Johnaton is very impudent.—The Mayor : But that wouldn’t prevent you spelling correctly. -Vlrs Cape: And if he hadn’t gone auay when he did he would have got »omelhing. (Laughter.)— The Clerk: Well, that’s no credit to you.—Mrs Cape : I don’t care whether it’s credit or not; it’s nothing but a money-making conctrn, this school board system. (loud laughter.)— The Mayor; Well, we must teach you. —Mrs Cape : Aye, each me I that you’ll have a job to teach me, I can tell you. (Renewed laughter.) There s plenty more don’t go 10 school: you ■bould look after them, I think.—The day or : A ou must obey the law. and it is a ■natter on which we cannot allow you to whink.—Mrs Cape : Oh, indeed ! People’s ot allowed to think now. Hah I—The day or : You are fined 5s and costs.—-The Police Clerk; Are you going to pay?— Mrs How can I pay, when dada hasn't worked these two months ? Ultimately, however, Arthurina’s mother simmered lown, and, assisted by a friend in Court, provided the requisite amount of cash de ■Handed by the inexorable officer.
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Evening Star, Issue 3415, 31 January 1874, Page 3
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824A WOMAN WHO “STOOD UP” TO THE SCHOOL BOARD. Evening Star, Issue 3415, 31 January 1874, Page 3
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