BOARD OF EDUCATION.

Marlborough Daily Times, Volume I, Issue 84, 9 January 1880, Page 3

BOARD OF EDUCATION.

Tuesday, Jan. 6th. The Board met at half-past ten o’clock. Present —Messrs Baillie - (iu the chair), YYard, Fell, Dive, Henderson, Paul, and Parker. .. The minutes of the previousmeeting were read aud confirmed. DEPUTATION FROM GROVE TOWN. Mr Henderson said there was a deputation from Grov-e Town in waiting, and he moved that the Grove Town business be first taken, and that- the deputation be received;

This was agreed to, and the following . letters were.read : Letter from the Chairman of. the Committee of the Grove Town School (Mr Pritchard), stating that the Committee adhered to their previous resolution that Mr Andrews ought to be dismissed on the ground of his intemperate habits, and that the Committee decline to hold an enquiry as : suggested by the Board, as they have no power to summon .witnesses or administer oaths. The Committee also believe that ■ .if the school children .were, called to give evidence against Mr Andrews, that he would punish them for if. The Committee agree that a deputation - consisting of Messrs Herd, Rush, Sadd, Aberhart and the Chairman wait upon tlie Board to explain matters. ■ ’ . Letter from Mr Andrews',’ forwarding copies of correspondence between the Chairman of the Committee and himself, and calling the. attention of the Board to a letter which appeared in the Marlborough Times of the 23rd December, and signed “ A Parent.” . •

A petition was also laid before the Board signed by 1.4 fathers of children to fhe number of 40 stated to be attending the Grove Town school. The petitioners express “ their indignation at the conduct of some members of the Committee, for the unjust and persecuting treatment of the teacher (Mr Andrews), with whom the petitioners are thoroughly satisfied.” The petition bore the signatures of J. Andrell, P. Pitcher, J. Cameron (member of Committee), J. Patchett, F. Parish, A. Cameron, T. Elsinore, J. Booker, W. F. Bassett, H Worthylake, J Channing, W. A. Sutherland and 0. McMillan.

A deputation, headed by Mr Pritchard, was then introduced, and Mr Andrews, the schoolmaster, also attended to speak on his own behalf in refutation of the charge brought against him, the truth of which lie denied. .. - ....

Mr Pritchard said the wish pf the majority of the Committee was to have Mr Andrews dismissed for intemperate habits. The letter referred. to signed ‘‘A parent’’ was false from beginning to end. There had been a previous resolution to have Mr Andrews dismissed,, but the Committee agreed to look over his conduct, —indeed they had done so time after time, but .lie got worse, and they met again and passed a resolution that he should receive three months’notice. Three parents had taken their, children away from the school on the ground of his intemperate habits, which were a very bad example to the children.' There were people with families in the district to make this a good school, but. that .would not be the case so long as the present master was there. He was always creating trouble ever since he had been there, and. he had also set a bad example as. regarded temperance. The children wore continually saying that their teacher was .drunk, and' the sooner thre was a change the Fetter it would be.' , Mr Rush concurred in what had fallen from, the previous speaker. He (Mr Rush) warned Mr Andrews very many times to keep away from drink, it had been found out that ,Mr,Andrews had been palmed upon them from another district from which he had been sent away on account of his intemperate,habits. - Since be had been at Grove Town he had been drunk times, out of number,, and he (Mr Rush).had advised, him to knock it.off and tried,to help him to ke.ep.Awayfrom.it by-going, to his house and sitting,with hiin.foy, hours,-, although his.•conversation i 3 not very edifying (especially when he is drunk), consisting of repi*. titions of the same sort of .thing over-and over again. Mr Andrews did knock off drink, for a.fortnight; but after that he gpt worse and worse, • He (Mr Rush) saw him shortly after the last school examination, drunk in Grove Road, and vowing vengeance against Mr Hodgson (Inspector) for something he had said about the school in his Report. ■He and other members of the Board considered it it to be their duty to get rid of a drunken schoolmaster. He bore no malice towards Mr Andrews and had nothing to say against him except his drunkenness. .. , ~ . • Mr Sadd endorsed what the previous speakers stated. It was also stated by one of the deputation that the children were not so well advanced as formerly. ; '' Major Baillie asked , if •Mr Andrews had been drunk during.school hours ? , • , ■ The Chairman said he could not say positively, but his boy told him that on one occasion Mr Andrews gave him a penny to kiss the. girls. Afterwards a-penny rolled out on to the- floor of the school, and Mr Andrews said, “Where did you get that penny ?” and the boy replied, “ It’s -the one you-gave mq,-for kissing,\thp girls.”. Mas such a man fit to be a schoolmaster 1.

Mr Rush sa d.on.one occasion, some.time ago, Mr Andrews closed the school without authority, and went to a- funeral at Tua Marina. He got beastly drunk at the grave and had. to hold on by the manuka bushes to prevent himself falling. Such, a scene at a funeral he (Mr Rush) never saw before. Even if Mr Andrews did not get drunk in school hours- he (Mr Rush) submitted that anyone who got drunk at night could not have his head: clear and bo fit to teach school next morning. Mr Cameron said he never saw the sign of liquor on Mr Andrews during school hours, and that he paid great attention to his school.- . - -

, Mr Andrews said the fetter signed “A Parent ” was every word of it true. It was 14 months ago since the - funeral referred to took place. He had given, the -school a holiday that day, wishing to see the monuments at Massacre Hill, ..and had gone to theiuneral. He had been taken ill .there and Mr Pritchard-himself, seeing, how-bad he was, had asked him • to have something to .drink, which he did. He was never drunk during school hours. - As- to- the charge of his'being drunk on the 6th November during school -hours and having been all the night before in Blenheim, it was altogether a, mistake. _ He got up early that morning and went into Blenheim to get a document he had left there, and he carpe hack before the -time, for opening school. Ho was perfectly sober both going and coming, and Mr Rae and • Mr Burns, who saw him at the punt, could.ipprroborate- his statement.- The pupil teacher- (Miss. Frit-, chard) had spread the report that lie came hack from Blenheim drunk that morning before she had had an opportunity of seeing in what state he was. Mr Pritchard was acting, against him from malice, and had been stabbing at him in the . dark. Mr Rush, who used to be dancing master, used to partake pretty freely at the village hotel,' and sometimes is. {jc.r .bmrei'-v;

was in his company and Mr Rush used then to say that he (did not care how much a schoolmaster drank so, long as he, attended to his school. He (Mr Andrews) was always scrupulously particular, as. to. his conduct during school hours. The school spoko, for itself and the Returns showed the results. It was hot true that children had been taken away on account of liis intemperate habits. The ■ children referred to had attended, the Blenheim school but their parents took them away,because,they objected to Mr Doherty., How Mr Doherty had left that objection was At an end, and as the distance to the Grove Town s'cliool was too far for young children, to walk iff hot weather they had been again sent to the Blenheim school.. There was no truth in the charge brought against him which was a piece of diabolical malice. Mr Pritchard said,, on the morning of the funeral Mr Andrews came in from Picton drunk. He (Mr ,P.) could fely on his daughter’s statement;. she was a most truthful girl, Mr Andrews wanted to get another pupil teacher. . ;J > Mr Andrews said it wap a mistake about lfis coming.from Pictpn that morning. He had walked from there the day before, which'was Sunday. ; Mr Sadd said it had been thought better to prefer a general charge of intemperate habits against Mr Andrews than to confine it to a specific charge of drunkenness on any one particular day, as the former could be more easily proved. Mr Rush said lie never got drunk at the, village hotel or anywhere else. He could take a glass' it was true, but as fpr a second lie did not care about it, He. had warned Mr Andrews time after time to keep away from drink. As. to tlie letter signed A Parent” it was false. He knew the writer, who was not fit to .wipe his boots. . . . Mr Henderson asked ; if .the beer referred to in tlie letter signed. “ A Parent” was strong beer or .ginger Mr Andrews said he bolieved it was ginger beer. -, >.. . . : j ; ,Mr Pritchard repeated that tlie contents, of the.letter referred to were untrue. . Mr Andrews wrote it himself, and got a parent to sign it. As to the dancing at. the school, he (Mr .Pritchard) had always been present and seen that the entertainment was properly conducted. . In reply.to Mr Ward, the . names of tho three parents who had . withdrawn their children were Messrs Burus, Hyde, aud Day. Mr.M y ard. remarked .that;the Inspector in his report had spoken well of this school, and.quoted from the report.io. that effect. Mr Bell said.th'?re was, evidently a difference .of opinion on this matteiy and suggest-; ed.fliat it should stand over, until after the, election of tlie new committee, which would take place this month, The peoplo of Grove Town would then hav.e thq.oppor-. tunity Of giving their verdict upon it by. saying,’ by tlie election, what master they, would-like to have. He thought the .choice should rest witli them. . The present Committee were not unanimous against Mr Andrews, and there was a petition in hia fa* voi'.: ... . ■ • • • Mr-Ward concurred. He also said he saw a difficulty wlii'cli might arise if this Board were made a sort of appeal court in every, squabble that took place between a teacher, and his Committee. lie was always in favor of local management by committees as much as possible. ... - ; Mr Henderson said the mam question for the Board to -consider was,: Did; they believe that Mr Andrews often got drunk. Il they did it would lie a serious thing for tho Board, to use its influence, for tho retention of a drunken schoolmaster. It did not seem likely that these, gentlemen who formed a. deputation, would, leave .their business in the country .and come into town about tho matter if they did hot believe they were right. It was a serious responsibility which devolved on the Board, but they ought not to shirk it on-that account. It had been said that this Board was too ready to shift its .responsibility. [Mr Ward: Mho says so 1 Mr Henderson :■ Mr Conolly said so at the Board.] . He (Mr IT.) believed that Mr Andrews, was a good teacher, and, perhaps, if he were removed to another school it would be a warning to him, aud he might do well in another place. • Mr Ward pointed out that if the Board intended to deal with the matter they must go deeper into the question, and they must have-sworn testimony before them. . He was in favor of Mr Bell's suggestion being adopted. , ’ Mr Bell said if tho Board resolved to remove Mr Andrews .it would be on the gro.und of liis intemperate habits, ai}d. id that case, it would not be right to send him to another school;. , • • . Mr Paul, said the whole matter evidently arose oat of the-schopl being used for danc-. ing purposes, by permission of. the. Committee, which was objected to by the teacher. He (Mr Baul) had often, met Mr Andrews; and had driven him in his trap often,. He (Mr P.) never saw him tho worse for liquor.' , ; /. • On-the motion of Mr. Ward, .seconded by. Mr,Parker, it was agreed that., the. matter should stand oyec un.t.i.l after the new election- of the School.Committee.' j , . , Mr .Pritchard tendered: his resignation aa a member of fhe. Committee, and .of hia daughter ,a.3.pqpil: teacher. .Qflier members also tendered their resignations.

, , . , TENDERS. ... . ... Mr J. Tait’s tender for printing and ad-, vertising was accepted, and that of Messrs Furness and, Boundy, not being according to specification, was declined. , tVAITOHI. • ~ It was resolved .that a -.well 33 feet deep be sunk adjacent to the Waitohi school. .KEKKRANGU. . It was-resolved that a supply of furniture to Kekerangu school be authorised. ' . .RENWICK TOWN. . -In- reference to thp complaint by the Chairman of the Committee, of Mr Tissi-. man, the master of .the school, having im-. properly expelled two children from the school, an apology from. Mr Tissiman was read, and also, a letter, in which he stated that there. w.as nothing to prevent these children from going to the school, and that, if they, did they would meet with tho same attention as the rest. The Secretary was instructed to commu-. nicato this apology to Mr Shaw, and the matter then dropped. PELORUS. ■ It was notified that Messrs, it/.?Forrest/ L. Borok, W. Henderson. P. MoXßhori, R.

elected as the School Committee at Peloru 3 Sound. LEAVE OF ABSENCE. Leave of absence was granted to Mr Seymour, who had met with an accident by cutting his foot with a scythe. ELECTION OF COMMITTEES. It was resolved that the election of committees be held at the same hours and places as they were last year. BLENHEIM BOROUGH SCHOOL. Mr Henderson’s motion with regard to alterations in the system of teaching at this school, was postponed until next meeting, sevaral members wishing to get away at three o’clock. Mr Henderson said he had a scheme whereby this school could have eight teachers without more expense than was incurred at present. He was particularly desirous chat Mr Seymour and Mr Conolly should be present when the matter Was discussed. In reply to Mr Henderson the Secretary said that the total for salaries and allowances for this school for the past year was £827 10s; High School fees £37 10s ; payment for results L 23 4s. Mr Macklin’s salary and allowances were L3OO and house, and part of the payment by results. Mr Henderson —who said he, as well as many other people were In a fog as to what was taught in the school outside the Standards —put in writing a long bill of questions with a view to elicit information in regard to details, which the Secretary said he would get answered before the next meeting. Mr Fell’s motion for the appointment of an assistant teacher at this school was also postponed until next meeting. In support of it Mr Fell pointed out that by the published returns this school had not got its fair proportion of teaching power, when oompared with the other schools in the district. Mr Fell characterised Mr Henderson’s motion as “politics.” Mr Henderson appealed to the Chairman, who ruled that the expression was out of order. The following letter was then read : Blenheim, Jan. sth, 1880. To the Chairman and Members of the Education Board, Blenheim— Gentlemen, —We the undersigned parents and guardians of children, desire to be informed if our children will be fully taught up to the highest Government Standard at the Blenheim Borough School without our paying fees ? We have, etc.,

John Hewett, C. Fulton, William Craig, Henry Dodson, Jno. M. Hutcheson. Geo. Carter, Jas. Simson, John Miller, Thos. Davies. The consideration of this letter was postponed until next meeting. After passing accounts the Board adjourn ed until the first Tuesday in February.

The list of questions put by Mr Henderson is as follows : 1. What is the working average attendance for the year 1879 ? 2. Ditto for the fourth quarter of 1879? 3. The annual salaries and allowances as paid during the last quarter ? 5. Total salaries and allowances paid during the year ? 5. How much is paid or allowed to each teacher ? 6. The particulars of the sum of LBSB 8s 4d paid to teachers in 1878. 7. What is the total amount that has been paid as High School fees ? 8. What are the names of those who have paid and the amounts ? 9. What has become of the money collected as High School fees ? 10. Are any pupils receiving instruction Sn more than two extra subjects ? 11. Do any pupils pay for more than two extra subjects ? 12. Give the names of those who are being taught extra subjects, and state what the subjects are that each is being taught. 13. Are there any pupils being educated in the sth and 6tb Standards who do not pay fees?