ASHTON SCHOOL ENQUIRY.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1429, 11 December 1886, Page 2

ASHTON SCHOOL ENQUIRY.

TO THE EDITOB. Sir, —A. short time ego there appeared in your paper a report of the enquiry held on November 16th In connection with the Ashton School—a report that was far from being impartial or complete. In justice to myaeif I deem it necessary to give as clearly as possible, from my n-i'ea, a fair report of the proceedings conducted by Mr Saunders ; and in order to do, this shall first of all st*te the charges pti-fern d against me, as Master, by the Oomnutee, and received through the Secret .ry of the Boa-d of Education. They were as follows :—“ That you have been severe in punishing, and too exacting in work required of the children, and have taken no notice of the directions of jr the Commit ee on the subject; that yon have changed the hours of opening school without regard to a resolution pasted by 'he Committee, and punished ohlidcan (in one case keeping them without dinner) ror non-attendance at trie time fixed by yourself; tba you closed the soh >o! on Sep ember 27 b, stating .that a holiday had been given, srhicn was not the case. .It Is stated that in consequence of the dissatisfaction fe ! t by the parents, many children h»ve been removed from the school.”

T -a Chairman cf the Committee (Mr G G lmour) first of all stated the chargee, and also that it would be necessary to go back eighteen months for evidence. Mr James Croy then asked Mr Saunders if the evidence of the householders —the maj rity of whom were satisfied with the teacher—would be taken : and Mr Saunder* replied that the dispute lay entirely between the Master ana the Committee and therefore the householders had no power to interfere. If they were foolish enough to elect a Committee In whom they had no confidence, they must out up with the consequences. Mr Taylor said that he considered hla children had receivtd excessive home work that they had been too severely punished; in one ease (about eighteen months ago) his daughter, ‘ a very modest little girl, had been placed upon a table. “ poor little thing,” that they had been kept withoot dinner once ; that they had not been admitted to the fi<e in cold weather : and therefore he questioned the teachers fitness for his position, Mr Shearer s'atad that he considered the home work too exacting, especially in history, and that one of fis boys, in April last, had been very severely punished, hla body being very much marked. Mr J D. Bell also thought the home work excessive, history in particular, and considered under severity had been exer» ciseo.

Mr James Croy had complained of the home work in April last, but since had bee- perfectly satisfied. and had every confidence in the teacher. Mr Crosson stated his children were young, and he had no complaint to make respecting severity in punishment or excessive home work ; but he considered bit children had not had sufficient access to the fire.

Mrs Mills (vbos husband bad signed the petition ia opposition to the Committee’s stated she had removed her children from school because her daughter had a fcad hand through receiving a stroke of the cane, and that they ware not attending another school, for the teacher refused to admit them I

After hearing the explanations, Mr Sanndar then addressed the meeting, and afterwards myself. He would giTe his opinion, though, of course, he could n>t state what action the Board w> sM take With regard to the complaint about he clock being habitally kept half an hone slow, oat pat correct on the day of the enquiry,—a charge not sta ed in the petition, but brought by the Chairman, it made ilitla matter t > anyone so long as the children received the full t.ape of instruction. Tie charges, however, we»B brought by men upon whose evidence he could rely J and as I was a young man, and, aa the Chairman emarkeo, perhaps wanted more experience, he thought it wonld be advisable for me to obtain the position of second master in a large school. Still >he charges were not serious enoogh to warrant my dismissal, nor ; o deprive me f getting another school, and he, M Chairman of the Appointment Committee, won'd pat no obstacle in my way of receiving another- The reports on the school have been satisfactory, and the evidence agreed throughout that I was “an industrious, capable teacher, and a young man of respectable character.” Therefore he would strongly advise me to radgn, of course giving a reasonable notice, and seek another school, aa my (( usefulness In the future wonld be considerably marred In this district.” Perhaps in tan years time T would see the matter in a different light from now, and though School Committees, like moat bodies, were ’not infallible, yet for my own benefit he would urge me to adept bis suggestion. This. 1 think, sir, la an impartial'report of the meeting, and thanking yon for ao much of your valuable space,—f am etc.. The Young Master, Ashton School December 11th.

TO THE EDITOR. Sib, —At the last meeting of the Ashton School Committee I was accused by the Chairman, of calling the members a set of “ Paradise Docks ■’ hi a letter, which appeared in the (fvardym on October 8:h signed “ Resident.” The sentence read thus—“ With respect to she petition to the Board of Education, I may say that like Paradise Docks they often go in pairs.” Would yon kindly Inform me whether the expression applies to the petition or the Committee, and also whether I was the writer of the letter. Yoon, etc., A. Bramlwy [The letter referred to was not written by Mr Bramiey. The sentence oiled 1s faulty in construction, but would appear to mean that jMftftons are apt to bo gregarious. The word **ll6lllloll seems to bo the nominative, though the verb which follows does not agree with it.—E»] m