Charges Against a School Teacher.

Hokitika Guardian, 17 December 1921, Page 1

Charges Against a School Teacher.

FINDING OF COMMITTEE OF ENt.HIRY. U'iai.l.\(,T()N’. !)«*<•. Ii Tin* I'Mm-ntioii lion? 1 ( ntumiiiiv wliidi licld nn t 1 Huitiiry into riunovs |»y tin* Gnrtorlon Distriri. lii!i ScJuml Coiiimitton Miss .)u;m Gladys Park, as<islant U*:iclu*r, brought in tin* follow titidiii“s: “Wiiilo tin* Sdiunl Commit U*o its counsel doliniu'lv disavows any of disluynlU against .Miss Park, this question so frequeiillv has heen roferrei! to in the Press ami rir(*ulaU‘il throughout tin- ilisiiict that full evidence was taken an it, and ii was estahlished hryoiid all douht that no charge of tlisloyaliy could stand against .Miss Park. In K-.Liard to specific chaiyres of umss ihsidiordinal ion, firavc , impropriety and serious misconduct ns a teacher, arising; mu rd the! fact that she wrote a leMcr and caused j it. to lie published in a public journal called ‘National lv«lm-afion,* the board’s committee of enquiry liuds that upon the evidence adduced none of these three charges has been sustained, Ibe school committee’s view of Muss Park’s letter l.ieino that in effect she pudesled against, the Court’s conviction and tin* hoard’s dismissal of Miss Wcitzel. The committee of enquiry wishes to point am that in giving in.*; (*vidcn.c Mi-s Park .idmitted that she ! ad. written the leitcr without full kn evlcd'x- o| Ihe facts. In these circumstances she expiessed reorek, and d<*sired to w ithdraw her references to the Department and the hoard. The school committee charged Miss Park with having in die same letter made a seiious definite political attack on the conduct of the head of her Department, namely she .Minis!- ’* of Kducaiion, and the committee of enquiry finds that in her published reference tu the action of *• Minister she committed a- j;rave indiscretion.. In conclusion, the committee of enquiry is of opinion that no further action should be taken, in view of the fact that M.iss Park cannot he held answerable for ir-

the Sovereign or against morals can be formulated out of her k’Uer.” Not all tlu* membe."s ol the Wellington Kducation Board wore satisfied witli the report of tin* committee on the ease. Mr It. A. Wright. M.P.. criti<ised tin* findings, poinlinp; out that Park had said that the “Maorilaml Worker” outfit to he read by children.

Mr Forsyth said it was only a joking remark.

Mr Wright said that such remarks were not the sort of tiling children could understand. This teacJ-er should not remain in the service ol the Board. Mi W. 11. Field, M.T . said he wanted to see the evidence, ami moved that consideration he deterred. Mr Forsyth said the conunittee was unanimous and reached its decision very quickly. Other momhers supported tin* committee, and the report was adopted with three dissentients.

responsible statements, and that no charge of sedition or any crime against