The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. MONDAY, APRIL 3, 1882.

Kumara Times, Issue 1719, 3 April 1882, Page 2

The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. MONDAY, APRIL 3, 1882.

The seventh annual report of the Inspector of Schools for the district of Westland, is published and circulated, and a copy of it is now before us. There is one paragraph in it which is eminently unsatisfactory, arid it is that in which the Inspector refers to the manner in which he will deal with the inferior results obtained in the principal schools, iu the confidential report *hich he forwards to the Chairman of the Education Board of the District of Westland. Now we should very much like to know what necessity there is for all this mystery and secrecy; The Board is a public body, and a representative one, and the public have a full and entire right to demand that its proceedings should have the light of day thrown upon them. If the proceedings in any of the "principal schools” have been so terribly shocking that the particulars cannot be allowed to appear in print, then the sooner an inquiry be held, the better. As things now stand, a stigma is cast upon everyone connected with educational matters in Westland, but chiefly upon the members of the Board. The question arises as to whether Mr Perkins, the Chairman of the body, is to have the monopoly of the " confidential report,” or if the other members

are to he permitted to peruse the record of the horrors connected with one or more schools. Surely of all the members of the Board, one can be found who has sufficient manly independence, to make an attempt at all events, to prevent a further continuance of this secret service business. Everyone is aware that the Board does not enjoy any large shate of popular favor, and it is most improbable that it will achieve such a result so long as things ate allowed to go on as they have done lately. We know unfortunately that the Board is a house divided against itself, and that the cause of Education in Westland has very materially suffered in consequence of the angry feeling which has arisen from the miserable petty squabbling which is continually going on. Greymouth is pitted against Hokitika, and Hokitika against Greymouth. The merits of any particular question which may be under discussion, do not appear, as a rule, to receive the slightest attention, but the divided energies of the Board are usually devoted to anything but the real business which should be considered. None but a few prejudiced individuals cared whether the sittings were held in the northern or the southern capital of Westland. The real duties of the members would be much more efficiently discharged if they would think a little more of the real work before them, and less of mere personal matters. The Inspectors’ report is in many respects unsatisfactory. Among other matters we find the following statement“ For the first time during the six years and a-balf, during which I have been connected with your Board, I have to announce a general falling off in the results of the year’s work-” This, it may be stated, was expected by everyone, and will therefore cause no surprise. It may fairly be assumed that the “confidential report ” will enlighten the Chairman of tie Bo ird as to the enormities which have combined to produce such deplorable results. It is to be hoped in the interests of education, that the Chairman will take his colleague into his confidence, and, having done so, will take prompt measures to remedy what is so evidently wrong in the working of the system of Education in Westland.