Frances thought that it was hard that a school for the education of the deaf should have treated its deaf teachers in such a way, but decided not to comment. ‘Dr Goodwin is currently suing the school – is this because of his son?’
‘Yes, but it goes far deeper than that. He still adheres to the old methods and believes that by airing the matter in court he will achieve publicity for his point of view.’
Frances could see that she was in danger of being made an instrument of an acrimonious professional dispute, something for which she had little inclination. ‘This is all very interesting but I cannot see how you wish to employ my services.’
‘It has come to my notice,’ announced Eckley, ‘although I do not have the proof I need, that Mr Isaac Goodwin has been meeting privately with some of the pupils of the school and giving them instruction in signs. This may even include recently arrived pupils who have only ever been taught by the German method. Moreover I believe he is encouraged in this by Dr Goodwin. Very recently I saw one of the younger boys actually conversing with the older ones using signs when they thought I was not looking! This undermines all my teaching.’ He looked very hurt, and Frances almost felt sorry for him.
‘I have ordered them to stop. I said it makes them look like monkeys, but they just seemed to find that amusing and continued to defy me. Ultimately I was obliged to make them stop by tying their hands together. Sometimes one must be cruel to be kind.’
Frances felt less sympathetic. ‘What would you like me to do?’
‘I need proof – proof that these damaging classes are taking place, proof that it is Mr Isaac Goodwin conducting them, the place he is using and that Dr Goodwin is complicit. The children are not going to Dr Goodwin’s house for classes; that I have been able to establish. Neither are they taking place at the homes of any of the children. Their parents are naturally anxious that their children should learn to speak and would never permit such a thing. It is a secretive hole in the corner affair, and my pupils refuse to admit that it is even happening.’
‘Do you intend to take any legal action?’ asked Frances, ‘because I do not believe that there is a crime being committed.’
Eckley sighed. ‘I have no wish to punish anyone; I am only thinking of the good of the children. All I want is to put a stop to a no doubt well-meaning activity that is harming their education. Once I have the information I require I will take out an injunction requiring Mr Isaac Goodwin to desist from teaching. I believe I have every right to do so. He is quite unqualified to teach the deaf whereas I’ – he tapped the card again – ‘have undertaken years of study. I am sure my point of view will prevail.’
‘Do you believe that the injunction, if granted, would strengthen your defence against Dr Goodwin’s action?’
‘Indubitably.’ The speed of his response confirmed what Frances had suspected, that this effect had been uppermost in his thoughts.
Frances was in two minds about how to proceed. She had no expertise with which to judge the argument either for or against the two methods of teaching, and it was not in any case her business to do so but to carry out the wishes of her client. Eckley was probably unaware that she had already had an amicable meeting with Dr Goodwin, and she wondered if there was a less confrontational way of proceeding.
‘Supposing,’ she ventured, ‘I was able to obtain for you written confirmation that these classes have been taking place together with a promise that they will be discontinued. Would that serve your purpose?’
Eckley considered the proposition. ‘I suppose it would,’ he said reluctantly. ‘I have not approached Dr Goodwin myself as I have been advised I must not do so in view of the pending action.’
‘It is possible that an injunction might be seen by Dr Goodwin’s representatives as unwarranted interference, even harassment, and actually harm your case.’ She had no idea if this was so, but it was an argument that might succeed.
He gave the question some thought. ‘Perhaps, if you were to act as intermediary, a gentle appeal from a female might prove more persuasive than a demand from a man of law.’
Frances was not sure whether this was a compliment; however, her concerns were allayed and she agreed to act for Mr Eckley. She was able without difficulty to secure an appointment to see Dr Goodwin later the same day.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Dr Goodwin seemed less happy than at their first meeting and Frances could not tell whether some circumstance unknown to her had caused this or whether it was simply the fact that she had called on him for a second interview. Her visits did sometimes have that effect. He welcomed her wearily but politely and spent a few moments standing at his desk ordering his papers as if that would also order his mind.
Frances waited for a brief while, then decided to interrupt his concentration. ‘Dr Goodwin, I am here not on behalf of Mrs Antrobus but Mr Eckley.’
‘Dear me, what can he want?’ exclaimed Goodwin, his head jerking up in surprise. ‘I can well understand his not calling here himself. He does not have the stomach to face me with his arguments.’
‘He has informed me that your son was dismissed from his employment at the school because he was instructed not to communicate with the pupils using signs and disobeyed the instruction. Is that the case?’
Goodwin sank back into his chair. ‘That is a harsh way to put it, but I suppose so, yes. And it is a terrible state of things, a thoroughly misguided proceeding. Eckley denigrates the signs as nothing more than pantomime; well, little does he know it but he is presiding at a charade. The school, supposedly an exponent of the pernicious “pure oral” system, is actually a hotbed of sign language, since that is the best and most convenient way for the children to converse. I have witnessed these German system classes and,’ an expression of great satisfaction lit up his face, ‘when the teacher’s back is turned the children sign to ask each other what was said and those who are best at lip-reading pass it on.’ He chuckled at the thought. ‘Now don’t mistake me, I have nothing against the practice of lip-reading and encourage the children to acquire it, but signs,’ he beat a hand upon the desk for emphasis, ‘should be their principal means of learning.’
‘I understand that your son’s dismissal is the subject of your action against the school.’
‘It is. I suppose Eckley has told you that I have taken the proceedings mainly in order to voice my opinions of his methods in court. In that, at least, I do admit that he is correct. Isaac has no need to return to work for the school. He is now employed as my assistant and does very well. Has Eckley engaged you to plead with me to abandon my action? If so, you must disappoint him.’
‘It is another matter. Mr Eckley believes that your son is conducting private classes in signs for the pupils of his school.’
Dr Goodwin laughed. ‘Does he now? Well if Isaac is doing so, and I don’t know that he is, I can only applaud his endeavour.’
‘As you may imagine,’ Frances went on, ‘Mr Eckley is very displeased and would like the classes to stop. In fact he was intending to obtain an injunction to require that they stop. I have managed to persuade him that he might do just as well with a written assurance.’
‘Which would of course be ammunition in his defence against my case,’ observed Goodwin with a frown. ‘Well, if the man wants a fight he shall have one, but I will not allow him to attack me through my son. Really, he can have no shame.’
‘I think it would be best for everyone if this particular dispute could be settled as quickly and amicably as possible,’ said Frances in her best soothing tone. ‘Would you be so kind as to ask your son if he is indeed holding these classes. If he can assure me that he is not, then I will so inform Mr Eckley and hopefully the matter will end there.’
Goodwin gave this suggestion some thought then rose and rang for the maid. ‘I will ask him, as you request, but I will neither encourage nor discourage him from making any statement. It is for him to decide.’