APPOINTMENT OF TEACHERS.

Marlborough Daily Times, Volume III, Issue 250, 27 June 1881, Page 2

APPOINTMENT OF TEACHERS.

To the Editor. Sir, —Now that Messrs Henderson, Dodson, and the clique they call their party, have succeeded in venting their petty spite on the school teachers, and for some unscrutable reason have been permitted by the Education Board to act as they like, it is time to ask the parents of children to watch the results of the unscrupulous tactics employed. If the schools are improved I will be one of the first to rejoice, but I cannot help having serious fears for the success of a school where little boys and girls are to be employed as teachers. I feel certain that Messrs Henderson and party are about to be as successful in their interference in education as in politics. Are the members of the Blenheim Committee actuated by the same motives as the members of a suburban Committee ? The story is a simple one and should be well-known. It appears that one of Mr Henderson’s creatures is the leading member of the School Committee. This person has a daughter, who requires instruction in singing, and there always was a desire to convert the school room into a dancing saloon. To meet these requirements a teacher of music instead of a school master is appointed. Where in this instance was Mr Henderson’s

demand for certificated teachers with the | interests of a large and important district ; at stake as against the desire of the lend- I ing member whose daughter requires in- | struction in singing and dancing. Uufor- | tunatc apathetic people ! Miserable Coinmitte, like the people of Blenheim you have been led by the nose, and it remains to be seen whether any of our School Committee has also a interested or selfish axe to grind. I hope the parents will keep their eyes open and observe for themselves the results of Mr Henderson’s strenuous efforts.—l am, &c., Parent.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir,— Now that the Blenheim schools have been provided with new teacir rs and Mr Henderson has got all the moony fo. the Dodson Committee out of the ioard that they are disposed to be plumb of, might [ suggest to Messrs Hendcrso ■ u Co. the advisability of devoting a liit'e of their energy (if there is any left) to other schools ? Mr Henderson, it is said, devoted considerable time to finding out if the applicants for the Blenheim school were suitable persons, forwldeh I give him all credit, although he has had to repudiate all his old doctrines ns to certificated teachers, and the Board has appointed three out of four teachers without certificates. Did Mr Henderson make the same enquiries as to the suitability of the Grovetown teacher as he did for Blenheim ; if not, why ? as he is not member for Blenheim, but Marlborough. Then again, how is it that the Waitohi school docs not receive the same attention from that gentleman as those on theWairau Plain; surely it cannot be because the Waitohi people arc not electors in the Wairau district? The Waitohi school has nearly as many children as the Jjjiiwick, yet at Waitohi we have but one Piker,—at Renwick three. This surely /f„ibt be because Renwick is in the electoral district of Wairau, and Waitohi in the Picton district ! People of Wairau ! I wish to draw a moral : elect Mr. Henderson 1 to the House of Representatives, and his whole energies and votes will be for some small section of his clique. I purpose in a future lettre, with your permission, pointing out a few more anomalies of this aspirant for a seat in the House of Representatives. —I am, &c., Fl/ xnusii.