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Story
February 4, 1921
Chariton Courier
Keytesville, Chariton County, Missouri
What is this article about?
At Crum school, teacher Miss Winona Fox was knocked unconscious by 14-year-old pupil Fred Burriss after a prior classroom dispute over spelling. The school board voted 3-2 against expelling the boy.
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Full Text
School Teacher Attacked
Miss Winona Fox who teaches the Crum school was knocked down last Thursday morning by Fred Burriss, a pupil about 14 years and rendered unconscious. This act came as a climax to trouble between the teacher and pupil the day before.
Miss Fox was hearing the spelling class and gave Burriss a word. After two trials the word was passed to another pupil. Burriss claimed he had spelled the word right the first time, which the teacher denied. After the argument had gone on some time Burriss is said to have told the teacher "to shut her mouth" or words to that effect, whereupon the teacher struck him with a switch, which Burriss jerked from her hand. She then attempted to whip him and Burriss caught her by the hand and is said to have twisted her arm when Miss Fox grabbed the poker and struck him over the head with it. This ended the trouble on the first day.
On Thursday when Burriss came to school Miss Fox was sitting at her desk, he approached her and told her she had no right to strike him. She made no reply and he repeated the remark. Still receiving no reply he is said to have said, "what's the matter with you, can't you talk?" to which she responded, "I don't have to talk to you."
Shortly afterwards she stepped out on the platform to ring the bell. When she re-entered the building Burriss struck her with his fist knocking her down. She was rendered unconscious by the blow or fall, or both, and remained so for some 10 or 15 minutes until she was resuscitated by the pupils and Mr. Strawhacker who was attached to the scene. The Burriss boy then went home.
Miss Fox was unable to teach that day. She laid the matter before the school board and later preferred charges against Burriss. Five members of the school board went down Tuesday afternoon and heard evidence in the case which was about as above stated. A motion was made to expel Burriss from school, the vote being two for expulsion to three against. Thus will the boy be permitted to return to school without punishment, the wisdom of which many doubt, considering the nature of the offense.
Miss Winona Fox who teaches the Crum school was knocked down last Thursday morning by Fred Burriss, a pupil about 14 years and rendered unconscious. This act came as a climax to trouble between the teacher and pupil the day before.
Miss Fox was hearing the spelling class and gave Burriss a word. After two trials the word was passed to another pupil. Burriss claimed he had spelled the word right the first time, which the teacher denied. After the argument had gone on some time Burriss is said to have told the teacher "to shut her mouth" or words to that effect, whereupon the teacher struck him with a switch, which Burriss jerked from her hand. She then attempted to whip him and Burriss caught her by the hand and is said to have twisted her arm when Miss Fox grabbed the poker and struck him over the head with it. This ended the trouble on the first day.
On Thursday when Burriss came to school Miss Fox was sitting at her desk, he approached her and told her she had no right to strike him. She made no reply and he repeated the remark. Still receiving no reply he is said to have said, "what's the matter with you, can't you talk?" to which she responded, "I don't have to talk to you."
Shortly afterwards she stepped out on the platform to ring the bell. When she re-entered the building Burriss struck her with his fist knocking her down. She was rendered unconscious by the blow or fall, or both, and remained so for some 10 or 15 minutes until she was resuscitated by the pupils and Mr. Strawhacker who was attached to the scene. The Burriss boy then went home.
Miss Fox was unable to teach that day. She laid the matter before the school board and later preferred charges against Burriss. Five members of the school board went down Tuesday afternoon and heard evidence in the case which was about as above stated. A motion was made to expel Burriss from school, the vote being two for expulsion to three against. Thus will the boy be permitted to return to school without punishment, the wisdom of which many doubt, considering the nature of the offense.
What sub-type of article is it?
Crime Story
What themes does it cover?
Crime Punishment
Justice
Misfortune
What keywords are associated?
Teacher Assault
Pupil Attack
School Dispute
Expulsion Vote
Spelling Argument
What entities or persons were involved?
Miss Winona Fox
Fred Burriss
Mr. Strawhacker
Where did it happen?
Crum School
Story Details
Key Persons
Miss Winona Fox
Fred Burriss
Mr. Strawhacker
Location
Crum School
Event Date
Last Thursday Morning
Story Details
Dispute in spelling class escalates when teacher strikes pupil with switch and poker; next day, pupil knocks teacher unconscious. School board votes against expulsion.