Feilding State School

Feilding Star, Volume XV, Issue 23, 27 July 1893, Page 2

Feilding State School

A Committee meeting of the above was held last evening. Present — Dr Sorley (in the chair), Messrs Carthew, Parker, Thompson. Worsfold, and Taylor. ; The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. The Head Master waited on the Committee, and said there were two charges made by parents of children against two of the staff. One charge was made by Mr Belk, who complained that on Monday, the 17th instant, one of the pupil teachers boxed his daughter's ears during drawing lesson. Mr Hill Btated that it was permissible for an assistant teacher to use the cane, but in no case would it be allowable for any teacher to strike a child on the head. Mr and Mrs Belk and their child were then called in, and the pupil teacher also. On the charge being read out, the teacher positively denied ever striking the child. The reason why the latter cried was on being remonstrated with for doing too much drawing and her book being taken away, and not because she was struck. Mr Hill stated that he asked several children who were in the class if they saw the child struck. The whole of the class, some 40 in number, denied the charge in toto. Further, all the children stated that they had never seen any child boxed on the ears by the teacher in question (Miss A. Watts) during the fpur months she has had the care of the class. As a result of his enquiries, Mr Hill felt perfectly satisfied the charge was false, and he had publicly caned Violet Belk before the whole class, as he considered the accusation was trumped up. The second charge made was that preferred by ' Mr F. McKenzie against Miss Haynes, an assistant teacher, and was to the effect that on Wednesday last his child came home with marks on the arm, caused by a cane ; also, that the child was slapped three or four times on the face. The writer further stated that he had made complaints previously. Mr McKenzie did not appear to substantiate his charge, but the Committee decided to hear what' the teacher had to say in answer to the complaint. The teacher, on being called in, stated that on Wednesday in last week she caned the child once on the hand and slapped her on the cheek. ; Mr Hill stated that he had enquired into the case, and the child said she had received one cut on the hand. On examining the hand next day, he observed there was a slight red mark on the wrist, but not on the palm, but he did not consider the cut had been too severe. He could not ascertain from the children present whether there was more than one slap on the face. Mr Hill remembered that Mr McKencie once before made a complaint, but on being asked if he wished the matter laid before the Committee, Mr McKenzie said he did not wish it. After carefully considering both charges, the following resolutions were passed : — .Proposed by Mr Thompson, seconded by Mr Parker, That the charge against Miss A. Watts, pupil teacher, has not been sustained by the evidence brought forward. Proposed by Mr Carthew, seconded by Mr Parker, That this Committee, after considering Mr McKensie's charge, are opinion that Miss Haynes has exceeded her duty, and that the Head Master be requested to inform her that in future she must keep within the regulations. The Head Master stated that Mr Campbell was away owing to illness, and it would be another week before he would be able to resume his duties. Owing to the prevalence of measles,, the attendance of scholars showed a great falling off. Last week the attendance was 285, and this week it had fallen to 198, with a roll call of 353. Messrs Carthew and Thompson were appointed a visiting committee for the ensuing month. After passing the monthly accounts, the Committee adjourned.