PUBLIC MEETING AT AMBERLEY.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2324, 15 September 1881, Page 3

PUBLIC MEETING AT AMBERLEY.

A meeting convened by the chairman of the local school committee, Amberley, was held in the main schoolroom on Monday evening. Mr L. O. Williams, as chairman of the school committee, presided, and explained that the meeting had been called in consequence of a requisition signed by a large number of householders in the district to explain the reason why the schoolmaster (Mr George E varies) had sent in hie resignation. The chairman stated that the master had resigned in cocseqence of his having no confidence in the Board of Education or the inspector. The inspector's report on his recent examination had been so unsatisfactory that the master felt that his efforts in the interests of the scholars were unavailing in the present state of affairs.

' Mr Greig asked if the chairman would give the meeting the opinion of the committee on the subject. The Chairman then read the inspector's report on the school, and the master's reply to certain statements contained therein, alio the resolutions bearing on the subject that the committee had forwarded to the Board of Education. The latter favored the master's view of the case, and inferred that the inspector was needlessly hard on matters of detail.

Several of those present spoke as to the efficient teaching of the present master, and regretted that an inspector after a cursory examination, should form an opinion directly contrary to theirs. As parents, the speakers considered they were in an equally good, if not much better, position to form an opinion as to the progress of their children, than any one examining the school for a few hours.

The general tone of the speakers' remarks was strongly against the inspector's report. The Chairman then read a letter from the East Oxford oommittee, accompanied by correspondence between their committee and the Board, referring to their being placed in a similar position to the Amberley committee. They suggested that both committees should ask for another examination of the two schools by Mr Edge. He (the chairman) deprecated this course as being unfair to ask one inspector to sit in judgment on a colleague. A lengthy discussion ensued, ultimately Mr G-reig moved a resolution asking Mr Everiss to withdraw his resignation until after the examination ordered by the Board (which is to be held within three months) and expressing regret that he should have found it necessary to have resigned. Another resolution expressing sympathy with the East Oxford oommittee, but suggesting that the next examination should be held by Mr Bestell, and as many parents as possible attend was proposed by Mr G. W. Crampton. Both resolutions were carried unanimously, and a hearty vote of thanks to the chairman having been passed, a well attended meeting was brought to a close.