KAIAPOI SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

Globe, Volume X, Issue 1273, 17 April 1878, Page 3

KAIAPOI SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

111-Usage of a School-Child. A special meeting of the Borough School Committee was hold ou Monday evening. PresentMessrs Pashby, Ellen, Coup, Revell, Whitefoord, McKenna, V. C., and Johnston (chairman). Letters were rend—Prom the Board of Education, stating that the Government intended to allow Mr J. Matthews, second master, a retiring pension of Jb'iOO in one sum ou his resigning his appointment, in consideration of his length of service as a teacher. From Mis Soulby, mistress of the infants' school, dated Thursday, asking the Chairman to visit the school and satisfy himself if she was able to perform her duties. Prom the Chairman to the infant school mistress suspending her, in consequence of alleged uudue punishment of a scholar, anu inability to maintain order in the school. Prom Mrs Soulby, stating that the head master and second master had exonerated her from blame in punishing the scholar, and asking to be informed how she was unable to maintain order. Prom Mr Rayner, head master, stating that he had not exonerated the infant school mistress from blame in punishing a scholar, as he had no doubt the marks on the little boy were caused by her punishment. From the Chairman to the Board of Education, stating that he had suspended the infant school mistress. Prom the Chairman to Mrs Soulby, informing her that an investigation would be held that evening. From the Chairman to the head master, requesting the attendance of himself, Mr Matthews, Mr Veysey, Misses Monk and Pashby, and Mr Unwin at the enquiry that evening. The Chairman then explained that the object of the special meeting was to cousider the complaint of Mr McKenna that one of his boys had beeu unduly thrashed and marked with wales of a bluut instrument from his ancle to his hip, and from oue hand to the elbow —marks said to have been inflicted by the mistress of the infants' department. Mrb Soulby was present. Statements were then made to the committee by the following persons : E. McKenna stated that on Thursday his son Richard, aged seven, returned from school with the bruises on his leg aud arms, as shown to the committee. The bruises were very severe, aud Dr. Oveudeu had been called to attend him. The boy said they were made by Mrs Soulby, who gave him a severe beating with a stick. The boy had always been a delicate child.

Richard McKenna, in reply to questions, said he could not spell " not," aud the mistress thrashed him with a stick (a piece of Manuka about iiu. diameter and 3sft. loug, broken, identified from other sticks). Bhe broke it across his leg. He was beaten first in the school, where Miss Pashby was, and then in the class room, where Miss Taylor was. His leg paiued him. This happened during the morning. Duriug the afternoon she promised to give him some pence. E. Rayner, head-master, said his attention was called to the boy's condition during Thursday afternoon. He found the bruises fresh on his leg and arm, and some old marks, the result of a dog bite. He sent for Mrs Soulby, and iu presence of the second master showed her the marks. She asked the boy if he could look her iu the face and say she caused them. He said she had made the marks. He noticed that she smelt strongly. She said she beat the boy for refusing to spell "not." J. Matthews said the infant school mistress told him she beat the boy because he was obstinate, and from what she then said he did not think she had beaten him severely. He did not see the marks under his clothes. The mistress was very excited.

Miss Pashby, pupil teacher, stated she saw the boy beaten with a stick, which Mrs Sou.by showed her had been broken in punishing him. The boy was troublesome as a scholar, dull, aud careless. The mistress was somewhat excited. Miss Monk, assistant mistress, had not witnessed the thrashing, but noticed that the mistress was excited on Thursday—something like a person excited from drink.

At this stage Mrs Soujby, wlio had declined to cross-examine any of the witnesses, stated that if the secretary to the committee would give her a form of resignation she wonld sign it, which was done, and she left the room. Mr Whitefoord moved, Mr Eevell seconded—- " That Mrs Soulby's resignation be accepted." Carried. Mr Ellen moved, Mr Pashby seconded—" That the gentlemen connected with the Press present be requested not to publish a full report of the proceedings." After some conversation the motion was withdrawn, the matter of publishing the report to be left to the discretion of the reporteis. The meeting then adjourned.