THE SCHOOL INSPECTOR’S REPORT.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1287, 23 June 1884, Page 2

THE SCHOOL INSPECTOR’S REPORT.

To the Editor.

Sir, —As the principle of “Justice” and “ Fair Play ” is somewhat involved .n conneotio s with this correspondence, and a* it is upon this foundation, laid in eternal equity and right, that our nation’s mighty successes and achievements have been made ; and from whose unsullied temple her heart-throbs have ever heat forth with irresistible pulsation of freedom, progress and civilisation, to the benefit of universal m inkind, it is only natural that when its foundations are assailed, and its sacred precincts are attempted to be defiled, that every true Briton at least should haste to its rescue and expel the foe. It is, therefore, on these grounds that I claim your indulgence fora reply to a letter signed “ E. A. Scott.” And Ido so with all the more pleasure, believing him to be a gentleman of integrity of motive and honesty ot purpose, and in the first place I must inform him, that either he does not understand the full position of affairs, or else his assertions are of a very evasive character. “ Secrecy ” was xot the only, nor even the ground of condemnation, but that the head mutress had been accused, condemned and sentenced unheard, and thA without a shadow of a chance of meeting her accusers and of making her defence. “ Secrecy,” Sir, when justice demands publicity is black enough for a public body. But-an intelligent ;age, and a socalled Christian community, when such a blot as the above can be perpetrated, it places matters altogether beyond the bounds of common reason and sense, and surrounds them with a blackness as thick as that of “ Egyptian night,” which may be felt. Let Mr Scott and all the Committee once and for all dismiss from their minds the idea that it is a publication of the correspondence which is all that is wanted, although Miss Hatband

publicly states aha has no fear of the I'ght. But what that lady wants is fair play, and the public want to see that she gets.it. I distinctly stated in my previous letter that she had received no complaints either from the head master or the Committee. Surely the Co nmittee have not entered upon and brought this state of things without rhyme or reason, and if there is a reason I humbly submit she is the very person of all others who has a right to know of it. It is not because the head master has sent reports to the Committee which she knows nothing at all about that she is to trampled upon. It is not because the Board.of Education, after a special visit of its Inspector, chooses to pass a resolution that there is a want of “ discipline in the school,” and for which they hold the head master responsible, that the head mistress is to be saddled with the blame. No, Sir, no, give the devil his due and everyone else, and especially members of the weaker sex, who have every right to be courteously treated, at least by their lords and would-be superiors. Would you believe it, Sir, that one of the Committee knows nothing about the affair, another at least says shame, whilst another did not even know the true purport of the Board’s resolution. Now, Sir,

p \J I UiD X/vaLU O UJOUIUIiUMi XW II J K/Uf while I am not in the same posi- , tion that Mr Scott is to judge of , the Committee’s decision, neither have j , any desire to, just now at anyrate, and while 1 am ignorant of the grounds upon . which their conclusions have been formed, ; and rightly so because as yet there appear , to be no just grounds whatever only to [ “ magnified sight,” yot of the way and , the m inner in which the matter has been, carried out, this deponent saith, education, Sir, higher education, is necessary to these gentlemen concerned if the positions they fill are to be«filled with the credit, dignity, and intelligence which the public demand from them. And while There is an amount of good in things evil Would men willingly distil it out; , yet out of “ unmitigated rot ’no good can ( come.—lam, etc., , Householder. j