I have noticed two cases in the past fortnight of
actions brought against schools by the parents of boys who had sustained some injury there, in the one instance in the laboratory and in the other in the gymnasium. In each case the jury found in favour of the school, and in each the Judge said he entirely agreed with the verdict. So, on the evidence as reported, do I. There is something singularly unattractive in these suits for financial damages, except in cases where there has been manifest and flagrant negligence. Of course, there are medical expenses to meet, but so there are if a boy climbs a wall and falls off it. Any boy may miss a rope in the "gym," or suffer from an occasional explosion in the laboratory, and parents who are not prepared to take that small risk should have their sons taught at home. I heard not long ago of the case of a boy who was accidentally killed at a school in the North of England. The head-master went in great distress to see the father. What was said to him was this : "Of course it was an accident. You could no more help it than I could. I was going to have sent my second boy to you next term, To let people see what I feel I will send him next week if you can take him." I commend that to some parents.
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