Mr Albert Edward Cooper, chairman of the school committee, has written in to head office to complain about Eileen Paull's treatment of Maggie Devaney, and has said Miss Paull dragged Maggie by the feet across the floor, after bumping her head. Miss Paull is asked to explain her side of the story. (Mr. Cooper's children were not at school the day of the alleged incident.) Bruarong via Yackandandah 27th Sept 1920 Sir, I have the honour to state that the following is a faithful account of the treatment meted out to Maggie Devaney on the occasion referred to:- one very dull afternoon, this girl entered school with a peculiar color on her cheeks. Feeling concerned, I asked what was wrong with her face. On receiving no reply, I repeated the question several times - she and a companion were then giggling. As the lighting is decidedly poor on such days, I called her out to me though I now knew that little was the matter. She came out but took up a defiant attitude refusing to answer when I asked what she had been doing. Annoyed by the persistent obstinacy which seemingly some girls fancy permissible since the inquiries to which both the previous teacher and I were subjected, I took her by the wrist, turning her sharply. To the surprise of both, she overbalanced almost drawing me with her. She was not hurt nor did I release my hold to as much touch her legs let along to 'drag her and bump her head'. Perhaps not altogether gently though without any injury after raising her I led her outside with instructions to come when she would answer, then do the lesson being missed. It was not raining; but when a shower did come, I sent for her to come to the porch. I then called her to try again but meeting with no response, I sent her back. Instead she went outside. After school the mother came to me complaining that the child had been put in the cold. She said it would not have been so bad had she put on a coat. She had not thought I would do such a thing though a certain other teacher would send children from their lessons. (I assured her that it certainly was not a habit of mine.) She would rather I had given the girl a cut with the strap for the believed that the children should obey and hers were no better than others. I told her I was sorry that thoughtlessness (not utter heartlessness) had made me put her out, for this was the punishment emphasized, in fact no other was mentioned. After talking matters over I thank Mrs Devaney for the reminder and for meeting me in her open manner. She voluntarily extended her and desiring that to end the matter. On receiving your memorandum containing Mr Cooper's gross exaggerations, I wrote to Mrs Devaney asking if such were as facts to her. Her reply states that she never mentioned such statements.. It was on account of putting Maggie in the cold that she was cross. Further, she had not spoken to Mr Cooper since but any complaint she had to make she believed in making to those concerned and not doing to behind their backs. The 'brutal assaults' surely had a different aspect to the mother from what it had to a man who was last year fined for such an attack on an old man and whose wife and family have complained publicly of his other than paternal treatment of them. Almost from the time I took charge of this school Mr Cooper has borne me a grudge; evidently because I objected to work at home interfering with school duties. His attempts at imaginary necessary retaliation have been underhand to the detriment of the school. His one object in becoming a member of the school committee was in order to make mischief which is all that he has done. I have it on good authority that he boasted that he 'could shift the teacher', he had done it in New South Wales and had the school closed. Result - the older children are retarded. Recently, he even soundly rated (by letter) a certain committee woman for having frustrated his previous attempt to dispel me. I am not aware any did not, though all agreed I was not as guilty as he would make believe. I certainly made no effort to enlist the sympathy of any in the district. Even my report then was lenient towards him; but I still deny that I caused the bruises mentioned at that time for they were not strap marks. However, perhaps this fuller report may serve to check future trouble, otherwise I should still make little defence for myself. I have the honour to be, Sir, Your obedient servant, A.E.Paull

Merren, I'm pretty sure that the committee woman Mr Cooper berated would have been Jane Isabella McKibbin. The inspector recorded in one of his investigations that he asked Mrs. McKibbin, a sensible mother of a large family, her opinion of Mr. Cooper. Apparently she replied that he was a hard worker, but could be rather overbearing. (Quite an understatement!) Ronda ----- Original Message ----- From: "Ronda Shambrook" <shambrookdr@dcsi.net.au> To: <AUS-VIC-HIGH-COUNTRY-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Wednesday, June 30, 2004 7:39 PM Subject: [HC] Bruarong - Paull, Cooper, Devaney > Mr Albert Edward Cooper, chairman of the school committee, has written in to head office to complain about Eileen Paull's treatment of Maggie Devaney, and has said Miss Paull dragged Maggie by the feet across the floor, after bumping her head. Miss Paull is asked to explain her side of the story. (Mr. Cooper's children were not at school the day of the alleged incident.) > > > Bruarong > via Yackandandah > 27th Sept 1920 > > Sir, > I have the honour to state that the following is a faithful account of the treatment meted out to Maggie Devaney on the occasion referred to:- one very dull afternoon, this girl entered school with a peculiar color on her cheeks. Feeling concerned, I asked what was wrong with her face. On receiving no reply, I repeated the question several times - she and a companion were then giggling. > > As the lighting is decidedly poor on such days, I called her out to me though I now knew that little was the matter. She came out but took up a defiant attitude refusing to answer when I asked what she had been doing. > > Annoyed by the persistent obstinacy which seemingly some girls fancy permissible since the inquiries to which both the previous teacher and I were subjected, I took her by the wrist, turning her sharply. To the surprise of both, she overbalanced almost drawing me with her. She was not hurt nor did I release my hold to as much touch her legs let along to 'drag her and bump her head'. Perhaps not altogether gently though without any injury after raising her I led her outside with instructions to come when she would answer, then do the lesson being missed. It was not raining; but when a shower did come, I sent for her to come to the porch. I then called her to try again but meeting with no response, I sent her back. Instead she went outside. > > After school the mother came to me complaining that the child had been put in the cold. She said it would not have been so bad had she put on a coat. She had not thought I would do such a thing though a certain other teacher would send children from their lessons. (I assured her that it certainly was not a habit of mine.) She would rather I had given the girl a cut with the strap for the believed that the children should obey and hers were no better than others. I told her I was sorry that thoughtlessness (not utter heartlessness) had made me put her out, for this was the punishment emphasized, in fact no other was mentioned. After talking matters over I thank Mrs Devaney for the reminder and for meeting me in her open manner. She voluntarily extended her and desiring that to end the matter. > > On receiving your memorandum containing Mr Cooper's gross exaggerations, I wrote to Mrs Devaney asking if such were as facts to her. Her reply states that she never mentioned such statements.. It was on account of putting Maggie in the cold that she was cross. Further, she had not spoken to Mr Cooper since but any complaint she had to make she believed in making to those concerned and not doing to behind their backs. > > The 'brutal assaults' surely had a different aspect to the mother from what it had to a man who was last year fined for such an attack on an old man and whose wife and family have complained publicly of his other than paternal treatment of them. > > Almost from the time I took charge of this school Mr Cooper has borne me a grudge; evidently because I objected to work at home interfering with school duties. His attempts at imaginary necessary retaliation have been underhand to the detriment of the school. His one object in becoming a member of the school committee was in order to make mischief which is all that he has done. I have it on good authority that he boasted that he 'could shift the teacher', he had done it in New South Wales and had the school closed. Result - the older children are retarded. > > Recently, he even soundly rated (by letter) a certain committee woman for having frustrated his previous attempt to dispel me. I am not aware any did not, though all agreed I was not as guilty as he would make believe. I certainly made no effort to enlist the sympathy of any in the district. Even my report then was lenient towards him; but I still deny that I caused the bruises mentioned at that time for they were not strap marks. > > However, perhaps this fuller report may serve to check future trouble, otherwise I should still make little defence for myself. > > I have the honour to be, > Sir, > Your obedient servant, > A.E.Paull > >

I guess you could call eleven kids - a large family <vbg>! Cheers Merren -----Original Message----- From: Ronda Shambrook [mailto:shambrookdr@dcsi.net.au] Sent: Wednesday, 30 June 2004 7:50 PM To: AUS-VIC-HIGH-COUNTRY-L@rootsweb.com Subject: Re: [HC] Bruarong - Paull, Cooper, Devaney Merren, I'm pretty sure that the committee woman Mr Cooper berated would have been Jane Isabella McKibbin. The inspector recorded in one of his investigations that he asked Mrs. McKibbin, a sensible mother of a large family, her opinion of Mr. Cooper. Apparently she replied that he was a hard worker, but could be rather overbearing. (Quite an understatement!) Ronda ----- Original Message ----- From: "Ronda Shambrook" <shambrookdr@dcsi.net.au> To: <AUS-VIC-HIGH-COUNTRY-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Wednesday, June 30, 2004 7:39 PM Subject: [HC] Bruarong - Paull, Cooper, Devaney > Mr Albert Edward Cooper, chairman of the school committee, has written in to head office to complain about Eileen Paull's treatment of Maggie Devaney, and has said Miss Paull dragged Maggie by the feet across the floor, after bumping her head. Miss Paull is asked to explain her side of the story. (Mr. Cooper's children were not at school the day of the alleged incident.) > > > Bruarong > via Yackandandah > 27th Sept 1920 > > Sir, > I have the honour to state that the following is a faithful account of the treatment meted out to Maggie Devaney on the occasion referred to:- one very dull afternoon, this girl entered school with a peculiar color on her cheeks. Feeling concerned, I asked what was wrong with her face. On receiving no reply, I repeated the question several times - she and a companion were then giggling. > > As the lighting is decidedly poor on such days, I called her out to me though I now knew that little was the matter. She came out but took up a defiant attitude refusing to answer when I asked what she had been doing. > > Annoyed by the persistent obstinacy which seemingly some girls fancy permissible since the inquiries to which both the previous teacher and I were subjected, I took her by the wrist, turning her sharply. To the surprise of both, she overbalanced almost drawing me with her. She was not hurt nor did I release my hold to as much touch her legs let along to 'drag her and bump her head'. Perhaps not altogether gently though without any injury after raising her I led her outside with instructions to come when she would answer, then do the lesson being missed. It was not raining; but when a shower did come, I sent for her to come to the porch. I then called her to try again but meeting with no response, I sent her back. Instead she went outside. > > After school the mother came to me complaining that the child had been put in the cold. She said it would not have been so bad had she put on a coat. She had not thought I would do such a thing though a certain other teacher would send children from their lessons. (I assured her that it certainly was not a habit of mine.) She would rather I had given the girl a cut with the strap for the believed that the children should obey and hers were no better than others. I told her I was sorry that thoughtlessness (not utter heartlessness) had made me put her out, for this was the punishment emphasized, in fact no other was mentioned. After talking matters over I thank Mrs Devaney for the reminder and for meeting me in her open manner. She voluntarily extended her and desiring that to end the matter. > > On receiving your memorandum containing Mr Cooper's gross exaggerations, I wrote to Mrs Devaney asking if such were as facts to her. Her reply states that she never mentioned such statements.. It was on account of putting Maggie in the cold that she was cross. Further, she had not spoken to Mr Cooper since but any complaint she had to make she believed in making to those concerned and not doing to behind their backs. > > The 'brutal assaults' surely had a different aspect to the mother from what it had to a man who was last year fined for such an attack on an old man and whose wife and family have complained publicly of his other than paternal treatment of them. > > Almost from the time I took charge of this school Mr Cooper has borne me a grudge; evidently because I objected to work at home interfering with school duties. His attempts at imaginary necessary retaliation have been underhand to the detriment of the school. His one object in becoming a member of the school committee was in order to make mischief which is all that he has done. I have it on good authority that he boasted that he 'could shift the teacher', he had done it in New South Wales and had the school closed. Result - the older children are retarded. > > Recently, he even soundly rated (by letter) a certain committee woman for having frustrated his previous attempt to dispel me. I am not aware any did not, though all agreed I was not as guilty as he would make believe. I certainly made no effort to enlist the sympathy of any in the district. Even my report then was lenient towards him; but I still deny that I caused the bruises mentioned at that time for they were not strap marks. > > However, perhaps this fuller report may serve to check future trouble, otherwise I should still make little defence for myself. > > I have the honour to be, > Sir, > Your obedient servant, > A.E.Paull > > --- Incoming mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.709 / Virus Database: 465 - Release Date: 22/06/2004 --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.709 / Virus Database: 465 - Release Date: 22/06/2004