The Daily Telegraph. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 22, 1883.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3776, 22 August 1883, Page 2

The Daily Telegraph. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 22, 1883.

We arc A-ery much mistaken in our estimation of the character of the Napier district school committee if that body does not keenly resent tho memorandum of the Inspector to its recommendation concerning the appointment of 31iss Gilroy. AYe venture to think that the Inspector's memorandum, was most uncalled for. There were twenty-one applicants for the appointment of first assistant mistress, and the greatest pains Avere taken by the committee to select the candidate most fitted for tho office. 31r H. Hill, in his memorandum for the guidance of the Education Board, expresses his surprise that some candidate possessing a higher certificate had not been selected by the committee, aud ho goes on to assert that Miss Gilroy holds a loavci* certificate than that of any teacher Avho previously has held the appointment. It is a pity that the Inspector should have jumped to a conclusion which, avo shall proceed to show, is not correct. 31iss Gilroy is, and has been for the last *tavo years in charge of the junior division of the school at Greymouth, Avhich includes tho infants' department and the : first and second standards', her pupils num- - boring 250. During this time the AVcst- < land Inspector speaks in tho highest terms "■ of her abilities, and certifies that for two i

successive years she has not failed a single child in either of these standards. Coming from Grcymouth it might DC supposed that \ the head-master of the Napier school mi flit have influenced the committee in °its choice, but so far from that being the case we aro given to un_ ers t, mf -| that, 3fr Thomson entirely ref ra i nod from taking any part m the selection ( and even omitted to give the applicant a i ottor Q f rpf mmen- o ,- dation. AVhen it is Considered that 3liss Gilroy, A\-ho, from h er p as t services and success, is eminently fitted for the ,position, holds a higher certificate than did 3liss 3lann, who was tho first Avho held the appointment here, and only one degree lower than that held by Mrs Stanley.' it seems to show something beyond the fnero desire to haA-e a teacher with high classifications must haA'o been disturbing tlif} - Inspector and some of the members of tho Board. If the Inspector had really been anxious to obtain the best person for the position, why did he not ask for testimonials, and not have been content with the bare record of ohissifioation ? No man knows better than 3lr Hill that classification is no sure method of gauging the abilities of a teacher. AVo would litcc to ask him how many appointments of teachers holding inferior certificates have been made in his district Avhen teachers of higher class havo been available ? It seems that Mis Gilroy is unfortunately something more than the victim of a low classification, as, from Avhat avc gather, the number of her certificate is the highest she could possibly hold from her length of service. Is it not a fact that tho Inspector recommended somo of the committee, unofficially Aye presume, to nominate a young lady to the post who possesses no certificate AvhateA*er Tho Avholc matter should be sifted. Either a school committee has some poAver or it is a nonentity. The Education Board never adopted any rulo, nor attempted to enforce one, specifying the qualification required for any appointment beyond that of a certificate. This 3liss Gilroy holds, backed by excellent testimonials. From what avo cannot but regard as tho indiscreet interference of the Inspector tho school is noAV left; for another month Avithout a mistress, and a slur is thrown on a lady Avho, so far as we know, in no Avay dcsciwcs it, and whoso Avork has met with the highest encomiums from thoso most fitted to judge of its Avorth.