The Fielding Star. SATURDAY, SEPT. 29, 1883. The School Inspector.

Feilding Star, Volume IV, Issue 50, 29 September 1883, Page 2

The Fielding Star. SATURDAY, SEPT. 29, 1883. The School Inspector.

The Wanganui Press, in criticising the action of the Lducation Board in dismissing Mr Foulis, the School Inspector, leaves us in doubt as to whether it is considered he was the victim of party feeling or hip own incompetency. What wo have now to deal with is merely the manner in which the affair was brought about, and the circumstances that led up tf. it. The decision of tne Board oughtnotto bave been a surprise to tbe Inspector, ior the events of the past few months must have taught him of tbe prevalence, in the minds of a majority of the Board, of a strong feeling against him, and, in our opinion, he would have consulted his own dignity more if he had resigned immediately on tho tabling of Mr Snklson's motion. If he bad done so we believe that he would have been asked to withdraw it, and a mere admonetary vote of censure would have been passed upon him, and the matter allowed to crop. Mr Foulis has in some measure to deplore the indiscre«t advocacy of his friends, as well as ths personal animosity against him, said (very plainly) to have been displayed by another officer ot the Board. A general* impression has existed in the minds of many that co long as Mr Watt was Chairman ef the Board, Mr Foulis, who is a compatriot, would be secure in his position, no matter what happened, as Mr Watt really represented the whole Board. Mr Foulis seems to havo had some 6uoh idea in his mind wheu he pettishly said that " he had but one sin to uv>ne for, and that was the original one of being n ' Scotchman.'* It is a pity he .said this because it would incline one to think that he believed he was dismissed on the score of nationality only. Such wqg not the casb by any mean;., although the true causes th;:t -.uided several of the members ol the Board are probably not to be discovered iv the several speeches made on rho occasion. The " head and front of his offending" i» said to be the fiction taken by him in regard to one ot'the lady teachers in the Feilding School. This is now tbe pist of the thing, and, in our opinion, Mr Foulis is more sinned against than sinning, and we will to sbow, how and in what manner. The Chairman. Mr Watt, was, after his customary style when luvin_r to speak of the Feilding School, not only biassed but injudicious. He said that " the results of the Feilding School were the poorest in the district, and proved that Mr Poulis's report on Mrs Brown were, in a jireat measure, correct." We quote from the report which appeared ol the meeting in the Wanganui Chronicle, and we are satisfied that thutjourii.il has reported . the sapient gentleman correctly. Admitting for the sake of argument that ihe statement of the chairman is correct, and that the Feilding school is not so far advanced as more, favored districts, .it appears to us that the chairman actually accuses i himself ol neglect of his' Own duties, and shows prejudice aud ignorance

when he a-signes the backwar .iieus ; of the scholars to the hmlriness of , Mrs Rhown's teaching", when that j lady had only been two or three ; months -dt work. If be was aware of this backwardness, why n<it use the \ powers intrusted to bim and attempt j to amend what he knew to be a had state of things ? It looks as if it did • not suit him to" - find this out until the local school com mittee tm guested smti" alteration in the staff, vvhAlrthey believed would be a means towards improvement. As these alterations di i not emanate from the Board, or were contrary to his wishes, Mr Watt discovered that it would be well for the Inspector to pay a flying visit to Feilding, with a view to upset tbe action ol the local committee. .As Mrs Brown had dese- vedly earned ! the confidence of the local com_iiif.ee, it was decided ti> remove ibis l.uly at any cost, and (he means taken to do so were so contemptible thut universal sympathy was excited on her behalf. Later investigation* .showed that the report of Mr Foulis was ii.aecur.it'>. and it seemed a kind of poetical justice to mete to rhe Jn pector th;' nam* punishment awarded to v;r Brown. The influence of r.h- chairman was unable to save him, and Mr Fni. lis b^ars the '"-lame that, ought to b> shared br Mr '.'• att. We have before hcen ci>mpei.e.i re express our •trui;.. belief ... the unfit...-;... of v.\i>. jrorj t !• — n.-'n ior *h«' po.-Abm he holds, .md »;■.. :A.iq'iuy o: pidgMiei.t ii«- Im.. liispi-.-yed in '.vi 'Ag the di-i.ui.-sal of nn ene-i---getic ::.•:! ns-A.l o'licT by his own mis__.a":a'.: ■.".: en' aud wan., of t_<_r._ confirms ;:. in our op.nion. Mr A'att H__»y have brail..* ar.d education euoti^h r>» make a good average member of Parliament, but be lack? the qualification;, that are necessary to fulfil the rcspon-ibiSit-iea of a chairman of uu Kducation Board.