SCHOOLBOY’S SUICIDE.
DREADED “FAGGING.” LONDON, May 10. A striking contrast with school con* ditions in New Zealand was revealed at the inquest on Charles Fairhurst, aged 14, a son of the Vicar of Barrowford, who hanged himself the day before he was due to return to Sedburgh, the famous North England public school. The father informed the Coroner that his son committed suicide by hanging because he dreaded “fagging,” es pecially as prefects had a right .to thrash youngseters who did not carry out “fagging” properly. Mr Graham Smith, headmaster at Sedburgh, stated in evidence that there was nothing terrible or derogatory in “afgging.” It merely taught small boys habits of prompt obedience and cleanliness. Prefects could only punish to the extent of two strokes. Fairhurst had never been punished. The jury, in returning its verdict, added: “ ‘Fagging’, in public schools should be abolished.” Canon Sawyer, headmaster at Shrewsbury, states that controlled “fagging” is a most valuable training.
Permanent link to this item
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/MS19300512.2.79
Bibliographic details
Manawatu Standard, Volume L, Issue 139, 12 May 1930, Page 7
Word Count
158SCHOOLBOY’S SUICIDE. Manawatu Standard, Volume L, Issue 139, 12 May 1930, Page 7
Using This Item
Stuff Ltd is the copyright owner for the Manawatu Standard. You can reproduce in-copyright material from this newspaper for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 3.0 New Zealand licence. This newspaper is not available for commercial use without the consent of Stuff Ltd. For advice on reproduction of out-of-copyright material from this newspaper, please refer to the Copyright guide.
Log in