DUVAUCHELLE'S BAY SCHOOL.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume VII, Issue 680, 19 January 1883, Page 2

DUVAUCHELLE'S BAY SCHOOL.

To the Editor. Sir.—Referring to the Inspector's report on Duvauchelle's Bay School, published in your issue of the 9th inst., will you kindly allow me space to make a few remarks thereon. As master of the above school no one regrets more than I do that the report should be of such an unfavorable character. At the beginning of the Inspectors remarks he distinctly states that the present master cannot be field responsible for those who failed to pass the standard examination. It is a well known fact that the school was in a deplorable condition for many years prior to my taking charge, and while not wishing to reflect upon the work of my predecessors, it must be patent to any sensible thinking person that the inefficiency of years is not to be wiped out in nine months. I do not ask for any display of sympathy from members of the late committee in the arduous duties which have devolved upon me in carrying on a school of from 40 to 50 scholars single -handed, but I respectfully submit that I should have had the co-operation of the committee towards securing the necessary aid to carry on a school which requires a staff of three instead of one teacher. It has been absolutely impossible for mo to devote the necessary time to the advanced classes, which is needful, in order to bring them to standard requirements. I have

no hesitation in saying that greater blame would have been attached to me had the lower standards failed, but I am happy to say four times the number passed who passed last year. The school has not been classified for years, and had I chosen to present no children higher than the second I would have been perfectly justified, but I honestly presented all children who were preparing for the higher standards, and who, had they been sufficiently long under my tuition to undo in a great measure the unsound work of former years, would, I feel confident, have passed their examination with credit. I liave many things to complain of with regard to the want of courtesy shown to the master by one or two residents in the district, who seem to take a secret delight in harassing the teacher, instead of being ready with kindly aid and assistance in the discharge of his duty. The first of the larrikinism, so prevalent here, was by a eon of one of the Committee members. Alaa for his interest in the cause of education I These difficulties are common to humanity, and I regret to say that I do not by any means stand alone in this respect. A lady teacher was approved of by the Board, tut, owing to the unpleasant name borne by this particular district, she declined the appointment. Rumour, Mr Editor, spreads far and wide, and in this case it does not depart from the truth when it characterises this Bay as by no means a delightful spot to dwell in. When I say this Ido not cast &ny reflections on either the climate or the place, which are both of an enviable nature. I have to regret the apathy which has distinguished the members of the late School Committee who did not attend, and those who did attend, with the exception of the chairman, seemed to have devoted their whole time and energy to trivial matters, calculated to worry and annoy the master, totally ignoring the duties for the fulfilment of which they are elected to office, namely, that of providing the school with teaching apparatus, and the cleaning. With regard to both of these I have just and reasonable grounds of com plaint, as I have had to supply at my own ex pense, even to the very chalk, teaching utensils. And how could it be expected that the school could be kept clean when the tenderer resides in Little Akaloa ? I am able to assort that the school has been only scrubbed and washed a very few times for the last nine months, and this by a daughter of a committee member. It has been frequently complained of, but with no avail. lam averse to laying my troubles and annoyances before the public, and I cannot conclude without giving full praise and gratitudo to those residents (by no means the minority) who have in every way shown a desire to give me fair play, and whose ready sympathy and ready desire for their children's welfare have helped me in the past to face untoward difficulties, and I trust that as the election of school committees is close at hand, those to whom I have referred will come forward and show their interest in the noble cause of education, which I submit is not advanced in making a master as uncomfortable as two of them possibly could. —Yours, etc., ALEX. MACLINTOCK.