Wanganui Education Board.

Manawatu Herald, 14 January 1893, Page 2

Wanganui Education Board.

Apparently Wanganui is very far from being an abode of happiness, so far as State school teachers- ate concerned. According to a member of the New Zealand Educational , Institute, there is a perfect ' reign of terror' in that little town, and teachers are groaning under the load of their burdens, but are afraid to cry out. If the pei'centage of passes it was stated falls below 60, the unfortunate teacher forfeits all claims to his bonus and classification, and it was insinuated that in such cases his billet rested on a by no means suie foundation. An example of the hardships of teachers, aged. (55. years who had had 30 years' English? and colonial experience, 11$- of which were in the same school at 1 Watiganui, who had been dismissed from his position, although he had receibed a very favourable report just previrmslv, It was further Btated that during last year teachers had been dismissed from nine schools in the Wanganni district, and in none of the cases was any reason for such an extreme course made public. In one case a master had been dismissed immediately he had been recommended for promotion to a higher school, and, it was added, the injured teacher was abont to seek a remedy in the Law Courts. To the system of estimating results by percentage was ascribed this dreadful state of things, and the meeting passed a resolution condemning that system and thfi harm it had done all pyer the Col >ny, and narticularly in Wanganui. — N.Z. limes.

On Thursday the Post had the following subleader: That ttie Wanganui Education Board came in for some very severe animadversion during the recent meeting of ; the Educational Institute is not to fee wondered at by anyone who has evein a slight acquaintance with the manners and methods of that Board. We know something of both, and we have before us evidence justifying condemnation of its administration in the very strongest terms. It seems to be a meddlesome, oaprioiQtfs, and tyrannical body, guided by no principle ,and in iss dealings with we teachers inspifMiiy no Sense of equity or justice. It harries its servants in such a manner as to weaken their self-respect, and deprive them of the espect or confidence of children

under them. That so many good tilen have been driven from its service "'- is, tile natural result 6i its i course of administration, and unless some stop is soon put to its vagaries, education will fall to a very low standard in the district under its care. The Taranakl Board, with its starvation seals of salaries, affords another sad example of the evils of Education Board administration in this colony. Thai; the Educational Institute should ho forcibly and ably ha\e drawn at ten tion to these evils is not amongst the least of the educational good which the Institute is so well qualified to effect.