TROUNCING TEACHERS

NZ Truth, Issue 936, 3 November 1923, Page 7

TROUNCING TEACHERS

THE CHILVERS CHILDREN'S MA Dirty New Zealanders A " HOMIE "PROVES HOT STUfF

There was a real lively time at the Newton ;East Public School, when teachers instead of children suffered the *rodi" at the . hands of an infuriated, mother. In these days of pampered -children and their pandering parents, some of whom consider that their offspring- should be treated like little lords, there doesn'l seem much fun In being a schoolteacher, and if half the tales told by the teachers are true concerning theli experiences, especially, iri ,the backblocks, the profession is likely to become unpopular. Judging by statements made m the Newtbii East case, the proposal to bring -out Mtjachers from Home will be popular with th« "Homie's," however", for some of these new arrivals seem to consider that theirs is the earth and the fullness thereof, and that their children should be exempt from any punishment or reprimand at the hands of their mentors, however reprehensible their behavior. The case referred to was one m which two teachers of the Newton East school were assaulted and abused by parents, and it showed.. a jcortilition ol affairs that, if allowed, would be intolerable and entirely subversive of all discipline. Robert Chilvers and his wife, two Importations from England^ were before Magistrate Hunt m the Auckland Police Court "on^Saturday last, charged with haying used abusive language towards teachers, and the woman was further charged with having assaulted John F. Wells, an assistant master/. by striking him with a ruler. The trouble was caused by THE CHIErVERS TWINS, aged ten, but it was not indicated that a second pair of Chilver's twins, aged six, who also attend the. school, were as troublesome as their elder brothers. Chilvers, by the way, Is one of those fortunate. Immigrants whb have secured a. good Job. He is a•■ conductor on the Auckland tramways^— and "Truth" trusts that his .manner -towards the public is more polite and proper than it was to the teachers on trild occasion. ' The prosecution was initiated by the Teachers' Institute* for whom Lawyer Blomfield appeared, and the Chilvers were represented by Solicitor Sullivan. Counsel for the prosecution set forth that the case . must *be regarded very seriously, m the light of school discipline, ad the scenes complained of were enacted m the presence of the school children. - The chief offender was the woman, who had an ungovernable temper." The twins, encouraged by their parents, bad been very difficult to control for some time past. The first serious trouble with the parents was on October 8, when the woman burst into the classroom . of Miss Phillips at the luncheon hour and broke the cane. Miss Phillips's "offence" had been that rather than have any trouble with one of the twins, she had sent him into the headmaster, and his mpther had come to the school to complain of this. She told the frightened teacher that if ever she sent her boy to the headmaster again, she would "bash m" her node and "push m" her face. She frightened not only the teacher, but one of the children of the school. Mrs. Chilvers shook* her fist at the teacher, CALLBr HER A "DIRTY CAT," and said she would tell the •headmaster what she thought about it — referring to that -gentleman as- "a- dirty New Zealander, as you all are." Four days later Mr. J. F. Wells was taking Miss Phillips's class. Tw.o of the boys^ — the . Chilvers 1 twins — were unruly, and they were ordered out to the front of the class for punishment. One of them refused to be caned — he struggled and the -cane struck him on the wrist instead of the palm. Then the bright youth ran off home, crying out that he was "not allowed to be caned." There followed a sweeping' descent by the enemy — Mrs. Chilvers descending m all the majesty of her wrath, followed by her husband, who ought to have : known better. The woman sought the headmaster, and, with great indignation, demanded to know why her beautiful twin boy had been struck. Then she grabbed the headmaster's ruler, and, still accompanied by her hefty husband, rushed into Mr. Wells*s room. After both had abused the unfortunate teacher with their tohgues (the superior Mr. Chilvers calling him an -Idiot and a coward), Mrs. Chilvers got m some rough work with the ruler, striking Mr. Wells three times on the face and once on the back of the bead. "The position is unfortunate. This woman appears to be of ungovernable temper," said Lawyer Biomfield. "ANYTHING MIGHT HAPPEN from such conduct." •'Has it not already been proved that things do happen?" asked Mr. Hunt, grimly, doubtless referring to the terrible Waikino tragedy. Evidence was given by Irene M. C. Phillips, teacher, m regard to the first scene at the school, and she denied the Imputation by Solicitor Sullivan that she had provoked the trouble by calling the heavenly twins and their mother *<Homies. M Mr. Wells and several scholars also gave evidence. The defence was then set up that the offence was not committed m school within the meaning of the Act. but this contention was over-ruled by the Magistrato- Then Mra. Chllvera got into the box, and she admitted having broken the cane and struck the teacher, although she alleged having been called a "Homie," and said that one of tho masters had declared that only the scum of th© earth was sent out here — referring to the immigrants. "It's a great pity she did not take my advice and plead guilty," said Mr. Hunt. "Instead, she went into the box and told a pack of lies and put m her child to bear her out." "I have no heaitution In convicting her," added tho Magistrate, referring to tho nrst charge. The headmaster of the school, Mr. R. 11. Patterson, In giving evidence <-f the uaßttuH, stated that on October 1U Mrs. Chilvers came to tho school about ten minutes after the children had been tHwruisHed and showed him a mark on the wrist of one of her twlnn. After SOME EXCITED OBSERVATIONS she rushed into the room wher« Mx f . Wells was arguing 1 arithmetic into the aend of a pupil, carrying a ruler she had seized from tho desk of the prlnclpul, followed by her husband. Chilvcra called the teacher a coward, and the teacher promptly offered to prove that ho was not, and invited him Jo "come outside." Then, when they were standing close together, Mrs. Chllvera got going with the ruler, striking Mr. Wells several tlroea — once across the nose, drawing blood. There was no actual assault until ; Well* and Chilvera went outside, said the headmaster, cross-examined by Solicitor Sullivan. Deaplte his assertion that Wells was a coward, It was Cbllv«ro who did not want to flght when it waa a matter of actual business. The headmaster didn't reckon that Chllverft stood m any danger from Wells, that his wife should ret rough with tho ruler. Yes, there was a dark bruise on th« child's wrist — it wa*n't the usual punishment. Magistrate Hunt sold it was perfectly clear to him that th« woman had an ungovernable temper, despite thy allocations that Miss Phillips had

> said to Mrs. Chilvers, "Get out of the l room, you Homie thing, and take your L kids back -where they belong-." and l that one of the masters had told her 1 that they only sent ! TltE SCUM OP THE SARTH '■■.■* •■ > out here (the "pack of lies" referred - to by the Magistrate). "This woman has an ungovernable r temper— she has shown it before," ' said Mr. Hunt. "The sooner she learns • she must control it m this country, the better." The Magistrate then went on to - emphasise -the gravity of the offence, 1 and he urged, that it was the duty of - the to assist the police force 1 and the scholastic profession parttcu- : larly. ■ '"Now, you stand vp — -I am talking ' to you," said his Worship, severely, to Mrs. Chilvers, who was sitting down with a look of defiance on her face. "I*et me tell you that if I see your face inside this door again on a charge like this I'll send you to gaol. I'm glad ■ this case was brought on — very glad. [ If yon can't control your language and your temper, please just stay at home m future. You should be glad for the free- education your children are re- ! ceiving. But, no, you Insult their teachers — >and assault them." For her abuse of Miss Phillips, the Chilvers lady was fined £2 and ordered to pay a guinea costs. Tfoe assault had not been as serious as he. thought, said Mr. Hunt, and there would be a fine of £ 2 on that charge also. "" Solicitor Sullivan (Who had altered the plea to one- of guilty m each case)' applied that the Magistrate should extend the benefits of Seotton 92 of the Peace Act and' ref rain f rom recording a conviction m the 'case of the husband, merely ordering him to pay costs. "No," said the Magistrate determlndly. "I am going to convict him. 3Do you. think I am going to allow a man like that to go Into a school and abuse a teacher?" Chilyetß was then convicted and ordered to pay one guinea costs. The Magistrate allowed a period of fourteen days, m which to pay the fines.