Feilding School Committee.

Feilding Star, Volume III, Issue 104, 15 May 1883, Page 3

Feilding School Committee.

A meeting of the above committee "was held in the schoolhouse, last evening. Present — Messrs J. C. Thompson, (chairman), Eev If. M. Murray, Bray, Watts, Towler, Worsfold, and Foster, (secretary). The Chairman said the committee had met together to consider a notice of motion by Mr Watts. The Secretary read the proposition, which was seconded by Mr Towler. Mr Watts, in speaking to his motion said that be considered the committee were justified in passing the resolution. lie believed nine-tenths of the parents of scholars attending the school were in favor of the steps proposed to be taken. Eev Mr Murray rose to express his reasons for not approving of the resolu tion. The first thing that struck him was the vague and general remarks that bad been made without any defiinite complaints. He thought that when such a serious resolution was proposed there should have been some more definite complaints put before the committee. There had been no complaints in writing. With reference to the late attendance of Mrs Dowling, the committee should remember that some statements bad been made by Mr Dowling that required looking into. The Chairman : But Mr Dowling had not denied the late attendance. Eev Mr M urray : But Mr Dowling had said that the late Chairman led him (Mr Dowling) to understand that he left the matter in his own hands. If they were to receive Mr Dowling's statement, it must be apparent to all that Mr Dowling •was going on as if he bad a license to do so. As to the form of .the resolution, he objected to the name of Mrs Dowling and Miss' Goodison being coupled together. Dissatisfaction had been expressed with her method of teaching. They were classed together as if they were on a par. The resolution should be written in two separate paragraphs. There are a number of changes mentioned in the resolution. One was as to Mrs Brown being mistress. He understood that Mrs Brown and Mrs Dowling were equal. The Chairman said that if the request of the committee was granted by the Board, Mrs Brown would, then be mistress, as one female teacher would be done away with, and a male teacher appointed. Her Mr Murray : Mrs Brown will then have an advantHge Mrs Dowling did not have. If Mrs Dowling had had similar advantages during her stay in the school, in all prodabilily the results would have been better. The committee were giving a new teacher (Mrs Brown) an advantage. He thought that such an important matter as the one at present under consideration should not be hurried, and might be held over until next monthly meeting. Mr Bray said it had been decided to consider the resolution at the present meeting, and such procedure as that suggested by Mr Murray, he would strongly object to. The Chairman asked Mr Murray for a summary of the points raised by him in support of the statement made by Mr Dowling. > The Bey Mr Murray said that the chief complaint was Mrs Dowling's late attendance. There must be something else under it. There is a want of substantive complaint. And as to the late halfhour they had all beard Mr Dowling's statement on that point, Mr Bray : I have previously stated that I have seen Mrs Dowling going to school at ten o'clock. It was not only half-an-hour. Bey Murray: I will not move an amendment, as there would be no seconder. You are all as one in favor of the resolution. Mr Foster agreed with what Mr Murray had said as to coupling the names of Miss Goodison and Mrs Dowling together. He approved of the whole of the resolution. The Chairman thought Mr Watts might compromise matters, and allow his resolution to be altered. Mr Watts would not object to the alteration as long as the full meaning of the resolution was not affected Mr Towler would like to know if Miss Goodison was a certificated teacher. In his opinion Miss Goodison's name should "be mentioned before Mrs D wling's Eev Murray: But that would — Mr Towler : I'm on my feet, Mr Murruay. Mr Murray could not see anything but the half-hour. If he had children of his own going to school, and associated with, and heard what other parents said, he would have a different opinion. He (Mr Towler) had been told that night, that this morning Mrs Dowling had actually abused one of the teachers before the scholars. If Mrs Dowling did not treat the teachers with more courtesy the scholars could hardly be expected to respect the teachers. Tl>e Chairman said it was very lamentable that no written complaint had been made. Mr Worsfold did not object to the alteration. Mr 6 Dowling has been longer in the school than Miss Goodison. What the committee wanted was an improvement in the teaching of the school. The Chairman thought Mrs Dowling's position should command a little respect. Mr Bray also agreed with the alteration. B«v Mr Murray asked if could record _fcis dissent against the resolution. The Chairman : Yes. The following resolution was then put and carried. Ayes, 5; Noes, Bey Mr Murray. The Chairman did not vote : — "I hat the Education Board be requested to reorganise the teaching staff, of the school, which, judging from the results and reports of list examination is yery urgently needed. This committee would recommend that Mrs Dowling be removed and that Mrs Brown be appointed mistress ; and further, that a certificated assistant mistress be appointed to take Mrs Brown's present position. This committee would also recommend the removal of Miss Goodison, and that a certificated male pupil teacher be ap. pointed in her p ace." The meeting then adjourned.