THE FOXTON SCHOOL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume I, Issue 74, 16 May 1879, Page 2

THE FOXTON SCHOOL.

The following is a copy of the correg. pondenoe which was read at the meeting of the School Committee on Tuesday last :— Foxton, May 12tb, 1879.

Dr Rookstrow, Cbairman Local Committee, . , .i : Foxton School. Sru — t enclose a letter received; bjc me from Mr Perreau,' and also ' my answer thereto. Mr Perreaa has not furnished me with the name of the liar upon whose authority he has made those statements, and he has therefore taken the authorship of the said lies upon himself. As I think you ought to be made acquainted -with any oharges — either- true or false —made against • the teachers in my school, I place correspondence in your hands for further investigation. ; , lam, Bir, . ;,, Your obedient servant, Chaules Hulkb.

Foxton, April 20, 1878. To Mr Charles flulke. Dbab Sir—l regret to have any complaints to make, bat it appears to me for tome time past, from the very unsatisfac.

Tory progress my ohildren iuake^ that they would be as well at homi. From what I can learn from themselves, their slates and books are taken from them and lost, and if they enquire or .complain, they are told to sit down the day through, or else are beaten by the teachers. lam informed the oustom iito make the teachers presents on their birtno&ys and other special occasions by the parents for the purpose of getting their children especially fonvtirdeil, niid an I find my children are almost quite neg» leoted, I suppose 1 must conform to the lule, although I believe it to be a thorough bad one.

It is a continual complaint with my children, when at home, tnat children younger than themselves, and a shorter time "i school, receive special lessons, and are pushed on before them, and they are left without hooks or slates to pick up what they can from others ; and I know from enquiries made by myself, that children — special favorites of the teaohers — are supplied -with books, and are now as forward as mine,, although they have attended'school a very few months* i < At present, they are without books or slates, and no notice is taken about them. I am quite willing to pay for books or slater for their own use, but not to be taken from them for the use of others. I shall make it tny business t>J see you personally ou the subject, as I believe you cannot be aware of ( the disadvantages some of the elr'dren are under.

Yours faithfully, J. A. Pbreeau, Motoa Road

Foxtoo, May 6th, 1879. Mr Perreau, Motoa Road, foxton. Sib— l have to acknowledge the receipt of a letter from yoti. in "which you are pleased to make certain definite charges against one of the pupil teachers of the Fozton school, and general charges against all. .

No 1. You state that your children have told you that their slates,- and books have been ta^en SroM^liJmknd tyf% '4ci ft": } Upon asking your cnildren whether they had told you this, they fla'*ly denied having done so. If they had told you this, they are guilty of telling lies. I personally know such not to be, the ctfse.

2. The second charge is not based on any ' thing your children may have done or said. It is such a serious charge to make, that 1 now demand from you the name cf the person upon whose authority you have dared to make it. 1 allude to tbe ohaige made in the paragraph ■which! caused to be* printed iv the Manawatp Herald of- this 1 morning's date. 3. You say your children are left without books and slates, to pick up what tuey can from others, and therefore not taught by US.

I have to inform you that your letter will be laid before the Local Committee, and tb»t I shall call upon you to substantiate your charges, which for the present I shall not characterise by their true name. ■ Charge No . 2is so serious,' that I must request you to furnish me in writing with the name of your informant before 4 p.m. on Friday, 10th instant', or I shall hold you responsible for it.

I am, &o,

C. HULKE,