The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. MONDAY, JANUARY 21, 1889. THE BOROUGH SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 2042, 21 January 1889, Page 2

The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. MONDAY, JANUARY 21, 1889. THE BOROUGH SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

The Borough School Committee have j taken the only course open to them by j determining to place their resignations , m the hands of the householders. We need scarcely recapitulate the circumstances which have led op to this decision BD far as local readers are concerned, but for the information of outsiders it may shortly be stated that the Committee and the Board of Education are at issue with regard to the question of the. head mastership of the school. The | past examination has not resulted to the . Board's satisfaction, and hence it has first advised and finally determined upon to make a change. The Committee, | however, are satisfied that circumstances I beyond Mr Kneen's control are responi gible for any shortcomings, and that if that gentleman were retained future rei ports would be all that could be desired. ! They have repeatedly recommended the ' Board accordingly and have fortified 1 theijr recommendation by forwarding to the Board a memorial very numerously , and inflaentially signed, amongthe signa- \ tares being those of a number of parents L whogp children attend the school, expres- } sing satisfaction, with Mr Kneen's . services. Indeed, so far ag we can » learo, the almost unanimous testimony I of parents js that their children have i been well brought on at the school, and there is very general disapproval of the determination arrived at by fa& Board m j the face of the protests and recomment dations of the Committee. ,J?rima facie , the Committee and the parents should be better judges as to whether or not the i master is m fault than the Board oan ' possibly be, and as there it* nothing all eged against Mr Kneen'e character or , couduct, we think that the Board should ! have yielded to the representations made. ; \ Ijt has chosen to take the opposite coarse ; > and is within the letter of the Act m ', deciding the matter for itself, having ; first consulted the Committee, but ' though within the letter we do not think ■ its action is m accordance with the spirit' ! :of Act which appears to ua to pre- ■ same that- the effect of consultation will ' be concurrence on the part of the two ' bodies. Indeed, what has transpired raises the question whether the" Act 1 should, not be amended so tbat.no teacher could be dismissed without the '. tconcprrence of both the Board and the Committee. As matters stand the Board's action has, as we have said, : left tbe Committee no alternative but to appeal to tbe householders— of whpße ; verdict we have do doubt whatever. mmmmtmmmm*mmmm^mi^m**^^rm ■