2. (_a_) That in view of the direct conflict of evidence with respect to
the caning of the Barnardo children they are not able to give a decision
on this matter; but they are strongly of opinion that there is no
evidence at all that the girl (E.C.) is mentally and morally deficient,
or a danger to the school, as stated in the letters of the head teacher
and her husband. (The head teacher said she was “_somewhat_” mentally
deficient, which, of course, alters the context).
(_b_) That, in their opinion, these children are well treated and cared
for by their foster-mother, and that the children are not afraid of being
beaten by her.
(_c_) That in their opinion the communications sent by the head teacher
and her husband to Dr. Barnardo’s Institution were not warranted by the
facts of the case.
The sub-committee, after most carefully reviewing the whole of the
evidence, advise: “That it is to the interest of elementary education in
this village that the head teacher should seek other employment with as
little delay as possible. That no punishment book having been kept in
this school by the head teacher prior to this occurrence she be directed
faithfully to keep such book.”
So the forces of reaction had triumphed. First, accused and condemned by
false stories put in the mouths of babes, eight and nine years’ old
respectively; secondly, because the Higdons had written to the Barnardo
Institution hoping to receive real justice from an impartial tribunal,
not local village justice; thirdly, insulted about an ancient rule of Sir
John Gorst’s _re_ punishment book, which other teachers in the county did
not possess. Thus they were supposed to have received their quietus.
The inquiry was practically a funless farce. Higdon and his wife
received short notice to vacate the schoolhouse (left in the lurch by the
N.U.T., as at Wood Dalling and at Burston, where the representative,
after promising that a slander action would take place as soon as
possible, became frightened at his own bravery, and thought better of
it), they felt inclined to understudy poor Joe, and move on.
At this juncture all seemed lost. The Higdons, poor financially and
politically, having no rich Liberal nor Tory champion, were confronted
with that “remove to a sphere more genial,” which their most Christian
friends desired.
The Burston Dyaks seemed to have succeeded, when all at once a change
came o’er the scene. Here entereth the school children. Not meaningless
are the beautiful words, “A little child shall lead them.”