ASHTON SCHOOL ENQUIRY.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1437, 21 December 1886, Page 2

ASHTON SCHOOL ENQUIRY.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —Th«re appeared in Friday’s issue a Utter signed by T Gilmour, contradicting many statements made by the Mas er in connection with the Ashton School enquiry. Now, Sir, I, as a member of that Committee, consider it my duty, in justice to the teacher, to make a few remarks on that enquiry. I come first to the remarks made by Mr Saunders on the elect on of the Committee. As I took no notes, I could not swear to the exact words used by that gentleman ; but I have no hesitation in sayi ig that the exact words used had the name meaning as those used by Mr Bramley in the report. Then, coming to the charge of severe punishment, I must say that not being present when the boy received the caning, I would not like to say that he did not get rather too much. But as Mr Gilraonr did not see' the boy’s bruises, I think'he might well have loft the matter to the parent of the child to settle, as he should be able to defend bis own c ise without the assistance of George s ilmonr.

With regard to the family of four being kept in school without their dinner for nn irly six hours, this does not agree with the time that the c ilJren were in school They went in 9.30, and being a wet day, came out at 2 as my children came home Bt 2 20 ; and none were kept after two, as stared by the Master at the enquiry Now, Sir, your readers can see for themselves how long the children were in school I now praceed to the latter part of the Chairman's roma ks, where he says that a “ more garbled and contorted statement could hardly be made ” This is certainly a stretch of the Chairman’s imagine ion, for there were persons present who are willing to bear out the Master’s statement. It is rather amusing that the Chairman should cri' ic'se the Master’s writing from notes a mouth after the enquiry, while he rdopts the same conse himself. Then he goes on to say “with the exception of two or three pa-agraphs the summing up of Mr Saunders is totally suppressed.” I would now rsk the Chairman why he withheld in his first report every remark made by Mr Saunders in favor of the teacher, while he published those against him V The Chairman then tells ns that the Committee placed the whole matter in the hinds of the Board, but ho does not state how o~ when 1 will now give your readers a few facts of the case. There was a petition drawn up by the Chairman, and signed by four of the members and two householders, and this was laid before the Committee After considerable discussion it was agreed to ask the Master to resign in a week, failing which the petition was to be immediately forwarded to the Board But the Chairman thought fit to withhold the petition for a month- When asked for an explanation, ho said it was in no fit state to go before the Board a a f hera ware no proper charges laid mit against the Ataster. Therefore, he had drawn up another, and those who the * ther c uIJ sign this. Then It s'urpestel by one of the members of the te> that the names should bo cut r ff th*< fi-T piti'iou and be attached to »he B°e >nd. This was ace irdingly done! Just ima ine the Chiirman drawing up ap titio i which wai n t fit to go before the Board, and yet he asked the householder- to sian it; and even placed their names on another one which perhaps they never saw ! !!

Now, Sir, t may inform your readers t’-at although Mr Bramley has got to have tho school through the majority of the C mmittee oeing against him, yet ha will not leave without the sympathy and good wishes of the majority of the householders Tn« Chairman says he is sorry Mr Bramley has opened uo a question that was virtually settled a month back So far as the Chairman is co icerned it may be, but there are two sides to every question. Then your corresponded says we have been subjected to an amount of haughty contempt from the master. I think. Sir, Mr Bramley will not have to go far from the school to find one who can bo aa haughty, or even haughtier than Mr Gi'mour has represented him to be I might write further respecting the case, but the length of this letter forbids me, and apologising for trespassing to such an extent on your space —I am, etc., James Grot, Ashton. [This matter has now been sufficiently ventilated. — Ed ]