BOARD OF EDUCATION.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2508, 21 April 1882, Page 3

BOARD OF EDUCATION.

An ordinary mailing of the North Canterbury Board of Education wax hold yesterday afternoon at three o’clock. Present—Mr John Inglis (chairman), Messrs Booth, Montgomery, Cunningham, Peryman, Farr, Webb, Rev. 0. Fraser, Before the ordinary business was proceeded with Mr Webb said this was the meeting at which it was their dnty to elect a chairman for the current year, and as one of the oldest members of the Board be had much p’easure in proposing Mr John Inglis as chairman. The Rev, Mr Fraser seconded the nomination.

Mr Peryman, before the question was put, wished to give notice of a motion, and, in doing so, desired it to be understood that he had not the slightest intention of reflecting in any way upon the ability of the chairman to perform the work of the office. At next meeting he would move the following resolution—“ That an executive committee be appointed, consisting of three members, to meet weekly, time and hour to be determined ; the committee to review and report upon all matters to come before the Board, so as to expedite business at the ordinary meetings ” The motion for the appointment of Mr Inglis as chairman was then put and carried, snd that gentleman, after returning thanks for his election, took the chair. The report of business transacted by the chairman since last meeting was read and approved. The Chairman said that a deputation from the Lower Heathoote district would wait upon the Board at half-past three o’clock in reference to the recent dismissal of the head master. Perhaps he had better read the correspondence which had taken place on the subject. The first letter was from the school committee, stating that an offensive letter had been written by the head master to Mr Davie, the chairman of the committee, in reference which a resolution was passed by the committee to the effect that the Board should be requested to thoroughly investigate the allegations contained in the letter, and that the committee were of opinion that the manner in which the head master conducted himself towards members of the committee was most unsatisfactory. The following was the letter complained of :

Lower Heathcoto School, March 19th, 1882. R. Davis, Esq , Chairman of School Committee. Sir, —I sincerely regret to say I am under the painful necessity of writing, on behalf of the parents of one of my pupil teachers, to request you —1. Not to shake hands again with any of those under my charge in school houra._ 2. Not to visit the Lower Heathoote school again during school hours except in taa company of one or more of the school committee or an official from the Board of Education. I was authorised to give yon the names of the parents, but for obvious reasons X shall not do so except through the Board of Education, if you wish it. This need not make any difference in our business relations, as I shall not mention the matter unless yon do so. —I am, &0., George Wilks. The Board at its last meeting decided that the head master should received three months’ notice. The chairman s-ud ha had received a legal opinion to the effect that the steps taken by the Board were within the provisions of the Act. Mr Wilks had called upon him, and intimated that he would place the matter in the hands of a solicitor; and subsequently a letter had been received from Mesers Harper and Co., stating that Mr Wilks had not had an opportunity of explaining the reason of his writing the letter complained of, and asking that he might be allowed to do so. To this letter a reply had been sent, to the effect that Messrs Harper and 00. were evidently not in possession of the whole of the correspondence between the school committee and the Board, which could bo seen at the office of Messrs Garrick and Oowlisbaw. A letter was also read from the school committee, complaining that the head master had employed the pupil teachers in copying the alleged offensive letter and circulating it through the district. This was the history of the case so far. and now a deputation from the district was waiting t) interview the Board on tie subjec’. Mr Farr asked whether it would bo better to hear Mr Wilks before receiving the deputation. Mr Montgomery eaidthe Board had always been careful to protect the intern- •< of the masters, when there was a collision with the school committee. In this case tho head master was not suspended, but only removed. There was therefore no imputation against his character, ami the Board would not refuse to appoint him to another school.

The ilov, Mr Fraser regretted that the Board did not sea fit to adopt the proposal he made at last meeting before dismissing Mr Wilks. It was also to be regretted that the letter from the headmaster to the Board had not come before the Board direct. Mr Webb did not agree with the latter remark. Such a course would be subversive of all discipline. Mr Montgomery said an inquiry could not bo properly conducted unless the persons giving evidence did so under oath, and the Board had no power to conduct an inquiry in that way. Mr Cunningham said they had heard one side of this painful case, but not the other In his opinion the action of the chairman of the committee was simply monstrous. Mr Montgomery said there was no evidence before the committee as to the action of the chairman. The Chairman thought that no explanation the headmaster could offer could alter the case, as he had placed himself in antagonism to his committee and its chairman. After some further discussion the deputation was introduced.

Mr Banks said that the deputation represented the parents of 350 children attending the Lower Heathcote School, and also a majority of the householders of the district. They had waited on the Board to present a petition from the parents and householders of the district. The petitio ers asked that the Board should withdraw the notice of dismissal given to Mr Wilks for the present, and give him an opportunity of assigning h's reasons for writing the private letter to Mr Davis. They considered that the heal master would not have had justice done to him unless the parents of the pupil teachers and he wore heard. The petition was signed fay 262 persons representing 350 children, and a majority of the houceholders in the district, also by six ox-members of the School Committee, one being a former chairman of the committee. The deputation asked the Board to receive the petition and consider it. Other members of the deputation were heard in support of the petition. They said there wes a desire on the part of the householders in the district that the head mreter should be afforded an opportunity of being heard. There was a want of confidence on the part of the residents in the district in the chairman and school committee. Mr Banks desired to remark that when Mr Wilks first took charge of the school there were only 220 scholars, while now there were over 400. The head master was much respected in the diilcht. Mr Montgomery wished to point out that Mr Wilks had not been dismifsjed, but had ooly eceived three months'notice. Mr Bants said there was a strong feeling in the district that the expression as reported in the newspapers, “Mr Wilks' conduct towards the chairman of the committee” was very harsh. His removal should have been stated as in consequence of the letter written by him to the chairman of the committee. The Chairman saia the Board were not responsible for the newspaper reports of their proceedings. The word “ conduct ” was not used by the Board. The deputation then withdrew. The Chairman said that he had received another letter from Mr Wilks, which had not been read. It was to the effect that if the Board would reinstate him, or recommend him to the Rangiora school committee, he would withdraw all proceedings in the matter, and he requested that the letter might bo considered as private, confidential, and without prejudice. He (the Chairman), in an angry moment, had torn thn letter up and thrown It into the wests paper basket The question for the Board now to consider was whether it would hear Mr Wilks or apt,

Mr Montgomery-'-® ll whut points The Chairman —ln explanation of his reasons for writing the letter. Mr Webb—l think he ought to explain that to the committee in the first instance, and if they refuse let him come hero. Mr Montgomery—Let him write to the committee, and if they do not forwaid his letter let him apply to the Board. It was agreed that Mr Wilks should bo called in.

Mr Cunningham thought that in the meantime it would be better for the Board to withdraw its notice of dismissal to Mr Wilks, and he moved a motion to that effect.. The Bey. Mr Fraser seconded the motion pro forma. It might put a stop to the lawsuit, and the Board could re-affirm the removal of Mr Wilks it they thought necessary to do so after hearing his explanation. Motion negatived. Mr Wilks having been introduced, the chairman informed him that the Board had decided that the proper parties for him to make his explanation to were the school committee. If he had anything to say it should pass on to the school committre. A letter oddresied to the chairman of the committee would be an official document, and would have to be sent on to the Board. If he found the committee did not so treat it, he could appeal to the Board. Mr Wilks asked how he could procure a copy of the correspondence which the committee had sent to the Board, because he was in the dark as to what accusations they had made or how they had represented the matter to the Board, He had written to the committee for a copy of the correspondence, but they had referred him to the Beard.

The Chairman said the Board could not give up its correspondence to anybody. If there was anything which Mr Wilks thought it necessary to have in order to defend himself, the Board would bo willing that ho should have it. Mr Wilks then withdrew. A letter was read from the drill master to the Board in reference to his forage allowance. It was decided that he should receive £SO a year in lieu of forage. The Chairman laid on the table copies of drawing-books received from the Education Department, Wellington, It was proposed to supply them to the schools at a charge of Is a copy. Mr Montgomery said that in Dunedin the School of Art gave tuition in drawing to between 5000 and 6000 pupils from the common schools. He thought the Board might make arrangements to have drawing taught in a great many of the Christchurch schools by the masters of the School of Art on very reasonable terms. Mr Cunningham agreed with this suggestion. Mr Farr said the proposal might be applicable to the town schools, but tuition in drawing was also much required in the country schools. The Chairman said the matter would bo considered. The following was adopted as rule 9 for the regulation of scholarships : —“ That the holders of scholarships will be required to satisfy the Board that they have been regular in their attendance at school, and that their progress and conduct have been satisfactory ; aod the Board shall be at liberty to suspend or terminate any scholarship on account of misconduct or neglect of studies on the part the holder.” A latter was read from Mies Kennedy, asking the Board to grant a sixth scholarship in the recent Normal School examination. It was decided that, subject to the approval of the examiners, a sixth scholarship should be granted, to be divided between Miss Kennedy and W. Stirling, who were equal. A communication was received from the Brookside school committee, stating that the committee had passed a resolution affirming that gymnastic exercises were unnecessarily dangerous in country schools, and that the apparatus should be removed from the grounds of the school. It was decided to inform the committee that, in the opinion of the Board, all that was required was that the exercises should be carried on under proper supervision. xkn application was received from the Halkett school committee for increased accommodation to the master's house and additions to the school. The Board agreed to construct an additional room for the master’s house. Applications were received and dealt with from the following school committees : Lakeside, Went Oxford, Kaikoura, West MCfl'on, West Christchurch, East Oxford, Hinds, Melton, Kirwee and East Christchurch. After transacting some further routine business, the Board adjourned at 6.15 p.m.