HILLSBOROUGH SCHOOL.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LVIII, Issue 14346, 26 October 1910, Page 2

HILLSBOROUGH SCHOOL.

GOAIPLAINTS AGAINST THE TEACHER. “Deserving of very grave CENSURE.” The committee appointed to investigate the charges winch had been proleyrod against Aliss Stephen, head teacher ol tho Hillsborough School, by the School Committee reported to tho Education Board last night that the charge of having stood a boy, “William Proud, on his head was admitted by the head teacher, though she contended that it was done mure tor a joke, than as a punishment, and the evidence of the children showed that they looked on the matter rather as a joke than otherwise. Nevertheless we consider that the teacher is deserving of very uravc censure, as il punishment is required there are recognised methods of inflicting it. A further charge.of being in the habit of inflicting very severe punishments was preferred by the School Committee, and evidence was heard by your committee, though under protest from Aliss Stephen. Tho teacher was charged rVith having severely punished Reginald Bishop, but Air. J. AV. Bishop, the hoy’s father, stated that although at tho time ho thought the. punishment excessive, ho had been satisfied with tho explanation made by tho teacher and considered the incident closed, find Hint it was not hrouglit before your committee With his consent. The other evidence called by tho School Committee did not sustain the general charge, though the statements made by the children showed that corporal punishment is inflicted to a much grealer extent than is anticipated by the hoard’s regulations (No. 4).” The-hoard went into committee, and a long discussion ensued. On resuming the report of tho conimitfee was approved, and copies of same will ho forwarded to tho teacher and committee.