TROUBLES OF A TEACHER

NZ Truth, Issue 818, 16 July 1921, Page 6

TROUBLES OF A TEACHER

Feeling Against A Featherston School Man

PARENT SETS OUT TO PUNISH A PEDAGOGUE.

Acts Under Great Provocation And

is Fined

James J&chard Kirby, teacher at the Featherston School, appears to be having a rough run from the residents of the- district following on differences over his treatment of two or three of the children under his cdre. In April last "Truth" published the report of a case m which a local resident was fined for assaulting him. A few days ago another case was heard against a resident who -was likewise fined for assaulting the pedagogue. The latest case was against F. A. Austin, who was charged at the monthly sitting of the Magistrate's Court. Featherston, before Mr. S. L. P. Free, S.M., with assaulting Kirby on June 27 last. Mr. H. Lawsoh appeared for complainant and Mr. Griffiths for defendant. James Richard Kirby, complainant, said- that some time ago he had occasion to punish one of defendant's children, and Austin had complained to the schpol committee. One day subsequently he met Austin on his way to school. Austin., asked him what he meant by 'hitting his child, and then struck him with a stick. . Complainant immediately closed -with him. Finally plaintiff got the upper hand and SAT ON AUSTIN'S CHEST for eight or ten minutes. Austin had threatened him previously, once at the school and again m front of Kitchener's Hotel.' There was no one about on the morning pf the assault- It was raining hard. Austin did not ask him for an apology. Defendant hit him first. Complainant was surprised and somewhat amused. Austin threatened him with a stick m front of a shop, but did< not offer him the stick to thrash him with. Chas. W. Ritchie, accountant, Featherston, chairman of the Featherston School Committee, said he had received a complaint from Austin, which his committee dealt with and replied to. Austin was dissatisfied -with the committee's reply. Witness met Austin later and Austin said he was going further m the matter. Witness suggested that Austin should drop the business. James Adamson, garage proprietor, Featherston, member of Featherston School Committee, remembered Austin calling at his office and stating that he had had it Out "with Kirby. Austin said Kirby refused to apologise, and he- gave witness the impression that he had struck Kirby twice with a stick. Frank Collins, fourteen years o£ age, farm hand, Featherston, said that while he delivered the morning papers, he met fWx- Austin going up the hill road towards Tidswell's. Austin asked him had he seen Kirby. Austin -was carrying a stick. To Mr. Griffiths: Austin asked him, "Have you seen Kirby?" Witness was sure Austin* did not say "Corby." Frederick A. Austin, taxi driver, Featherston, remembered meeting Kirby on June 27. He had a letter m his hand from the school committee, which he had carried about with him for some time. He asked Kirby for an apology. Kirby had RAISED BLISTERS ON HIS CHILD'S LEGS with a stick and had offended him personally by sending home a message to the effect that he (witness) would have to refund 2s, the price of a bag of apples allegedly stolen toy his child. He replied, through his eldest son, that Kirby would have to "take it out of his hide with the stick he thrashed his son with." Kirby replied, "All right, tell him to come down to the school on Monday moraing." .Kirby did not give him a hiding. Witness did not threaten Kirby. Witness asked the headmaster not to let Kirby thrash his children. After' the school committee meeting, Kirby gave his boys more cane, and said, "Now go home and tell your father I have thrashed you." When asked for an apology on the Monday morning Kirby replied, "Apologise to you? Never!" Kirby hit witness m the chest and told him to get out of his way. Witness then hit Kirby m self-defence. He got the worst of the scuffle. To Mr. Lawson: He did not go to see Kirby purposely on the Monday. Witness denied asking the boy Collins, "Had he seen Kirby?" He was out looking for a dog called "Corby." He jjpd not .find the dog, but found Kirby. Thomas Tidswell, taxi proprietor, Featherston, stated that he remembered seeing two men near his place on Monday. June 27. . He knew both men by sight. "It appeared to witness that the taller of the two men (Kirby) opened hostilities. In his opinion, Kirby was the aggressor. Austin had been to see witness that morning on business m connection with his car, and then went off lookiifg for a dog. To Mr. Lawson : v He was about 150 yards from the parties on the morning m question — not a- quarter of a mile. Thomas A. Parnell, laborer, Featherston, stated that he was m the backyard m the morping m question. Witness saw the bigger man lunge into the other man; then they rolled about the ground. He could not say he saw the first blow struck. . In summing up, the Magistrate said h e was satisfied the story told by plaintiff was substantially correct. Defendant was convicted and fined £5. costs £1 6s. "Truth" thinks that,, in the light of the circumstances that did not come out at the court hearing of the case, that the magistrate was rather rough on Austin. It is evident from the summing up of the affair by the local school committee that Austin acted , UNDER GREAT PROVOCATION. This can be judged from the following letter which the School Committee wrote to Austin when he complained of the punishment Kirby inflicted on his child: I am instructed to reply to your letter as under: (1) As the headmaster's letter replying to yours indicates that your boy admitted the offence for which he was punished, all things considered, the punishment wa3 somewhat severe, and the companions of your boy should have shared it. (2) The Committee wishes to point out that your own conduct since the complaint was lodged has been such- as to bring the /teacher into disrespect. Your complaint indicates an exacting idea of a teacher's duty, and I am asked to point out that it is impossible 'for a teacher to perform tha£ duty unless his position is respected by the parents of the children under his charge. The Committee trusts that you will ' see the reasonableness of Its. representation re this matter. — Yours faithfully, Clifford C. Kenwood, hon. secretary, Featherston School Committee, June 24, 1921. The Committee plainly states that the punishment was, "somewhat severe," and if, as Austin alleged, the teacher used a stick on his -child's leg. Kirby was only inviting action from the father. Perhaps, however, after suffering two assaults within a few months, teacher Kirby may take a tumble that his treatment of the children under his care is not just as considerate as it ought to be.