TEACHER HARASSED.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18890, 12 December 1924, Page 10

TEACHER HARASSED.

THREATENED BY PARENTS.

COURT PROTECTION SOUGHT.

DIFFICULTY IN BACK BLOCKS.

[BY TELEGRAPH.—OWN CORRESPONDENT. ]

TE KUITI. Thursday.

An example of the antagonism with which teachers of back-country schools are said frequently to meet was provided in Court here to-day. The teacher concerned was R. B. Ebert, master at Aratoro, a remote bush settlement six miles from Kopaki. Albert John Scott was charged with using insulting language to Ebert, and an application was made to have him bound over to keep the peace. • Complainant related that Scott had called at his house at night and threatened and abused him, alleging that he had unjustly punished his son. Scott had threatened his life, and vowed his intention to have him kicked out of the district and to thrash him before he went.

The police sergeant who appeared for complainant said that Ebert had been almost driven out of Aratoro, where some of the parents did all they could to harass him. The bush hands (jot drunk, and Ebert did not know what might happen. Scott denied threatening Ebert.

In the course of the evidence it was stated that a letter of reproof had been written to the teacher by the School Committee without hearing him or investigating the facts.

The magistrate observed that , the teacher evidently had a position of no little difficulty and danger. It was wonderful that he managed to maintain any discipline at the school. There was no doubt that Scott should b,e bound over, but a technical deficiency in the information necessitated decision beipg reserved. _ .;: < • i i .: "J In another* case Annie-- Wallace, for threatening behaviour to Ebcrt, was fined £2 with costs. . ' ;