Feilding School Committee.

Feilding Star, Volume XVI, Issue 17, 20 July 1894, Page 2

Feilding School Committee.

A special meeting of the Feilding State School Committee was held last evening, and was called to consider a charge made by Mr L. E. Reade against Mr Carter, acting assistant master in the school, oE alleged unduly severe corporal punishment to his son Charles, a boy of 14 years of age. Also, a charge laid by Mr J. Saxon against the same teacher of the excessive caning of one of his boys on the hand. Present — Messrs W. Carthew (chairman), W. G. Haybittle, R. J. Thompson, J. Sorley, J. Gould, W. G. Shearer, A. Eade, H. Worsfold. An apology was received from Mr. J. Taylor for non-attendance. Mr Reade's letter was read to the effect that Mr Carter had lost his temper for a trivial act of disobedience on the part of his boy, who was severely caned by him (Mr Carter) about the hands and legs. The boy immediately went hon.e from school and on showing his swollen hands to his father, the latter took' the boy to Dr. Monckton, who gave a certificate to the effect that the boy had received severe punishment. The letter accused|Mr Carter of brutality, and the head teacher, Mr Hill, of negligence in superintending the discipline of the school. On the charge being read, Mr Carter was asked to give an explanation. He reviewed the incidents which led up to the flogging. They were, briefly, as follows: Mr Carter was teaching the 4th Standard with the sth and 6th under his charge, and as he noticed some talking in these classes he enquired who the guilty child was, but on reciring no reply, told the boys in those standards to stay in at play time. Ten lines were given to the boys, with the exception of two named Watts and Seade, who received forty lines for attempting to go out without permission. Reade refused to do this, and on being corrected replied impertinently to Mr Carter, who therefore kept him in at dinner time to complete his punishment of extra lines. Reade still refused to do this and picked up two inkwells and threatened to throw them at Mr Carter, who gave him two minutes to put them down, which the boy did. This was before the boy received any caning. The insubordination was continued and Mr Carter gave Reade four cuts on the hands and six about the legs. While Mr Carter wa? putting away the cane the boy threw two ink wells at the teacher and then ran out of school and had not been back since. Mr Hill, the head master, in reply to a question, said that as far as 'he was concerned the boy was obedient, but with Tespsct to Mr Galland his manner was not so good. Mr Reade asked Mr Carter several questions relative to the occurrence. He (Mr Carter) distinctly heard Chas, Reade say he would not do more than ten lines. The trouble arose after the other children had done their ten lines. Some of the questions asked were considered irrevelent by two or three members of the committee, and Mr Reade remarked that he would take the matter into court as he was not going to get justice there. Mr Hill had made enquiries into the matter and found that a boy named J ohn Bartholomew had heard Charles Reade use bad language to Mr Carter. Mr Hill was of opinion the boy deserved his punishment in the interests of discipline. ? Mr Saxon's complaint was then read, and that gentleman was anked if he had anything to say to substantiate the charge, whereupon he expressed the opinion that although his boy may have deserved punishment he should not have been caned on the hand. He thought the punishment was too severe. Mr Carter, on'being asked for his explanation, said he hod given the boy four cuts on one hand (as the other had a blister on) and the boy going back to his seat in a rowdy manner by stamping his feet he (Mr Carter) gave him another cut. Proposed by Dr Sorley, seconded by Mr Worsfold, That this committee after considering the complaints of Messrs Reade and Saxon is of opinion that though the thrashings were severe they wore justifiable under the circumstances.— Qprried unanimously. Mr Hill said that it lay with him whether Charles Reade should be expelled from the school or punished for the act of mutiny in defying his teacher by throwing the ink wells and running out of sohool. He asked for the committee's opinion as to which alternative they would prefer, but it was decided to leave the matter in the hands of the head master (Mr Hill.) The committee then adjourned.