She’d have Kicked Him.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume II, Issue 179, 7 August 1888, Page 3

She’d have Kicked Him.

TROUBLES OF A SCHOOL MISTRESS. Last week there was a “pretty kettle of fish ” in connection with the Hampden School (near Waipawa), which is in the H.B. Education Board’s district. A special meeting of the School Committee had been convened, and a large number of the public turned up to witness the developments. Mrs Doar, head mistress, asked that the children present retire from the meeting. This was objected to by parents present. The Chairman thought it would be as well to order out the public. Those present objected to the committee taking any action in making the public retire. They would not retire without being forced. The Chairman said he could make them do so if he choose. This caused some dissent. It was decided that the children retire into the other room while the teachers gave their evidence, and they would then bB allowed to give evidence on the subject.

Mrs Doar then gave evidence as follows :— She was teaching the children as usual in the upper room, and those in the lower room were under the control of the pupil teacher—they were very disorderly all the afternoon. She called the children to order several times and spoke to the pupil teacher, asking him not to allow the children to make such a noise. The children, when preparing for their reading lesson, were ordered by the pupil teacher to remove their seats, and in doing so they made a great noise. She then went into the infants’ room and found children, some fighting, others playing, and carrying on beyond their limits. Asked the pupil teacher not to allow them to make such a noise, and he answered that they must remove their seats, when wanted. She dared him to answer her in such a manner, and told him to leave the school instantly, or otherwise apologise for such conduct. The pupil teacher would not make an apology. She then ordered him to leave the school, and said she did not want to see him until brought before the Committee. He then pitched d own the chalk and left the school for home.

George J. Buchanan, then gave evidence— Was pupil teacher at the Hampden District School. Mrs Doar, Head Mistress, came in as usual, late, and commenced on him for allowing a noise. The children removed their seats for their reading lesson, and Mrs Doar came in out of the upper room, and asked him what all the noise was about. He said the children must remove their seats when requested. Mrs Doar then asked him how he dared answer her in such a manner, and told him to leave the school at once, or elaet apologise for his conduct. Would no apologise as he had done no wrong. Mr Doar then demanded him to leave the echoo at once. He did as requested. Did not throw down the chalk as Mrs Doar said in her evidence. Mr Buchanan hem wished to tay a few words as father of the pupil teacher. He stated that Mrs Doar had lean guilty of very unwarranted conduct, in ordering the pupil teacher from the school. She had trodden on the committee and treated the Education Board with contempt. It was Mrs Doar who had been guilty of insuborbination, and not the pupil teacher. Mr Buchanan made a few more remarks and then retired to his scat amid applause. Mrs Doar here rose, and stated that if she had been a man, she would not have ordered the pupil teacher out of the school but would have kicked him out. After the evidence of the children had been taken, the committee retired, eventually deciding upon the following resolution That the committee regret the matter was brought, as they could see that there was a heat on both sides, and that the teachers should now proceed with their duties as usual, and that the pupil teacher obey the head teacher in a respectful manner, in future.