CUNNINGHAM, Lee 1870

CUNNINGHAM

Posted By: Nettie Mae (email)
Date: 12/11/2023 at 21:22:19

Source: Page 3, The Clinton Weekly, Clinton, Iowa, Nov. 11, 1870
On Saturday morning last, Lee Cunninham, the son of C. D. Cunningham, Esq. of this city, died of brain fever. His age was I believe, about fifteen years. He was intellectually a very forward and interesting boy. A large circle of friends, young and old, mourn his demise.
Connected with his death is a very painful remor of his disease having been superinduced by a blow from the hand of the German teacher in the High school. So general has the rumor been circulated that it has gained considerable credence. Your correspondent has taken pains to investigate the matter, and would candidly say that although the teacher did strike him once, with the flat of his hand, upon his cheek, after taking into consideration the fact of apparent ill health prior to that time, and of an illness of three week's duration after, it would seem scarcely probable that a single blow upon the cheek could have in any way hastened the progress of the disease. We cannot, however, justify; in the least, the practice of punishing children by the application of even the hand to their face or head, and teachers should be made to understand it.