The Wanganui Education Board.

Manawatu Herald, 10 May 1894, Page 2

The Wanganui Education Board.

— .» We had hoped the above Board was getting a little wiser in its generation and were willing to leave to School Committees the very small powers they yet possess. But years of careful abstraction of the -powers of committees has hardened the Board's officials iso* asi&J cause them to be dissatisfied until they are able to filch some other right. The fight, the most successful of any the committees have ever had with the Board, th|it of selecting and shielding the head teachers is now being attacked by the Inspectors in ; an underhand sort of way which needs exposing or otherwise the teachers will be led to sympathise with the dodge, to their future undoing. The Inspector sends a formal note to the chairman of the school committee that on a certain day he intends to inspect the school. He does so, but instead, as heretofore, forwarding the results to the chairman with a request to, after perusal, hand them to the master, sends them to the master with the intimation that they are not to leave the school, but they can be inspected there. This appears to us about as big a piece of impudence that has ever been perpetrated on a school committee. Inspectors must know that committees seldom meet in the school buildings and therefore, practically, no information is deigned to them though notice was given of the Inspector's visit. The excuse made

is, that remarks are attached which is for the master's guidance but which it is not advisable to tiiake public. The Inspectors question the wisdom of the committee. To us it appears that this is another attempt to sicken the committee with their duties and also to weaken any effort the committee may make to have some choice in the retention of their teacher. The success of a school lies not wholly, though Inspectors appear to think otherwise, in the actual percentage of passes and failures, and however necessary it is for the head teacher to have the fullest information about the examination, equally so is it necessary that the committees have that information so that they may arrive an opinion of their head teachers^ capacity without being forced to^ accept the Inspector's dwitiiri ; 'on &l£ points. We have had experieoce of a report from an Inspector adverse to the school, but in which no allowance had been made for sickness or the interference with the teaching staff shortly prior to an examination. Such a report read as written would be vastly injurious to a teacher, but which viewed from the knowledge ot the committee might be exceedingly satisfactory. The chief power left to committees is that of standing by their head teacher it they believe in him, and the Board knowing they have that power are bouud to give each committee the fullest and earliest information regarding the school under their charge, aud every committee should resent most strongly the innovation attempted. If the Inspectors have words of wisdom to drop to theiiead teacher which may be thought wasted on members of committees, by all means let them drop them privately, the members could well spare a lot of the verbiage enclosed with the reports, but at the same time the committee have the undoubted right to know how each child who has been presented for examination has passed or failed, and any reasons the Inspector may please to make for the success or failure of any, and they should have it presented to them in the usual official way so that they can examine it at their convenience. Two or three years continuance of these slighting tactics will meet with success, unless resolutely objected to, and the result will be that all teachers will be more absolutely under the thumb of the Inspectors than they now are. It is impossible to conceive how a committee can stand up for a teacher about whose results in teaching they are not made aware, and as to whether the examination failed from the fault of the head teacher or his subordinates. A curt intimation, such as has been experienced in Foxton is opan to any amount, of abuse. The dry results of an examination is all that will be given, unless special steps are taken to get more. Even then very meagre will be the result if the Inspector's reriiarks are not to be read. Under this system it is quite possible for a bad teacher to be retained in charge because it pleases the Inspector to do so, owing to the committee being unaware of his opinion, or it is quite likely, as we have had experience of, a teacher may be lauded to the skies at one examination and reversely at the next, though the results of the examinations did not bear out either so much praise or blame. If the committees are worthy the trouble of electing they are worthy of the fullest confidence on the part of the Inspectors, aud it is a bad day in the history of the Wanganui Education. Board when the publio representa- ; tives are treated thus cavalierly by the people's paid servants.

The rumours in our cable views about,.* probable mutiny in India would be very disturbing had not that good young man who writes the leaders in the New Zealand Times set all our fears at rest by his strong assertion that "it is difficult to believe in the possibilities of any mutiny in India." We trust means will be taken to let the Indian Government know of this. The Palmerston Borough Councillors do not seem to be housed comfortably as the Times says at the last meeting " the water penetrated in several places and a number of valuable papers lying on the clerk's table were damaged." What about the Clerk ? They manage matters, for themselves, better in Foxton. but ignore the Press, as the table set apart for the reporter is the most disgraceful piece of furnituro in the whole town, being rioketty and worm-eaten. If only for the sake of the Library that table ought to be kicked out immediately, and should have been years ago. A flaxmiller who has lately left the district has been much inquired about and yesterday an information was sworn to charging him with forgery, and a warrant has been issued for his arrest. .If the Governor only knew the trouble he was giving oar aspiring resident he would not be shooting pheasants in Auck land, but would be taking quick passage to Wellington to sign that long delayed commission. The. Commission set up by the Government to endeavor to find out how Colonel Fox's letter got to the Post has met with a nasty jar. A summons to attend was served upon Mr Gillon and Mr Hoben, editor .and Parliamentary reporter of the Post. Both refuse to attend. Mr Gillon wrote a strong letter to the Commissioner in which he stated he regarded the confidence .-(of information received) as abßo lutely sacred. He further mentions that he has maintained this principle successfully before the Supreme Court. We admire Mr Gillon's stand and thank him for placing the position of journalists so clearly before the Government and the public. Messrs McMillan Rhodes & Co. have an important announcement in their usual space, wheh is of consequence to all to read.

Mr Greenwood will visit foxton on the 17th mat. We ar<f requested to state that there will be no mass at Foxton on Sunday next, but there will be on Sunday week at 11 a.m. Mr E. !Le Gallienne says the press is a huge looking-glass, in which the age admires itself each morning. A great window display will take place to-morrow night in Messrs Loveday Bros, new premises. The actual sale commences on Saturday morning. Messrs McMillan, Ehodes & Co. will hold a sale of general merchandise on Saturday. Tenders are invited by the Messrs Robinson Bros, for ploughing. Tenders close on Tuesday next. Messrs Gorton and Son hold a large sale of stock at Awahuri on Tuesday. On Saturday, at Palmerston, Messrs .Abr^ato aid ' WlUiams hold a sale of ;..?-■• .■'■-. ■". %.Z! x .&&:'' inset oi^ much importance to all ilaifreiAappears with to-day's issue. It is issued by Messrs Loveday Bros., and referS to speoial sales and their opening in iheir new shop on Saturday. A clerical romance is reported from a country parish in England, which was brought about through the agency of a matrimonial journal. A poor curate, seeing an advertisement setting forth that a lady with £300 a year, and having a living in her gift, desired to marry, responded. A correspondence ensued, references that proved mutually satisfactory were exchanged, an engagement followed, and now the wedding has-been celebrated with due eclat. The jury in the case of Hayes v. Australasian received fees, which amounted to £12 10s, each, or £75 in all, and expense which will be borne by the plaintiff. The manufacture of cordage, twine, and fabrics from the fibres of the pineapple leaves is a new industry in Florida. On the 18th July. 1889. "a little cheque " for £5,338,650 was paid to the Kimberley Central Diamond-mining Company, and the De Beers Consolidated Mines became an accomplished fact, with Cecil Rhodes as chairman of the company and Gardner Williams as general manager and representative of the Rothschilds. In South Africa history the carrying out of this scheme is now known as " the first Collossus of Rhodes." Writing about the English Government Whips a London correspondent says " a perfect whip must have sufficient social standing and prestige, tact, impudence and versatility to be able at the same time to bully the heir to a Marquisate, to swear at a cabman and to reassure a Wesleyan local preacher, all of them common objects ;about the House of Commons. The best «arly training for the post of Government Whip is to have been captain of the football or cricket team, or of, the boats at Eton. Appropos of the remarkable rate at which the works at the Parliamentary Buildings have proceeded and certain other public works have been dragged out, a new definition has been found for the words " cooperative labourer," says the Post. Such people are now described as " men engaged in Seddon-tary occupations," Here is a story which Baron Dowse, the celebrated Irish judge, once told :— " I was down in Cork last month holding the assiaes. On the first day, when the jury came in, the officer of the Court said :— " Gintlemen of the jury, yell take yer accustomed place, if ye plaze." And may I never laugh, said the Baron, if they didn't all walk ipto the dock. . Certainly the most effective medicine in the world is Sanders and Son's Eucalypti Extract. Test its eminently 'powerful effect in Coughs, Colds, Influenza ; the relief instantaneous. In serious cases and accidents of all kinds, be they wounds, burns, scaldings, bruises, sprains, it is the safest remedy— no swellings— no inflammation. Like surprising effects produced in Croup, Diphtheria, Bronchitis, Inflammation of the Lungs, Swellings, &c, i Diarrhrea, Dysentery, Disease of the Kidneys and Urinary Organrf. In use at all hospitals and medical clinics j patronised by His Majesty the King of Italy ; crowned with medal and diploma at International . Exhibition, Amsterdam. Trust in this i approved article and eject all others.— [advt.] Sixty-eight oases and packages of new and seasonable good for all departments have now been opened out for present season at the Bon Marche, and it is freely admitted that no such choice is obtainable jn the district. Buyers are invited to make their . selections early . while first choice i of this magnificent range of new goods is still obtainable at The Bon Marohe. Ross and Sandford. — Advt. Our imports of new season's dresses, millinery and mantles.are.nowfully.com. pleted. The choioe we are enabled to show, and the stricfly moderate prices charged are much appreciated by our country friends while visiting . Te Aro House, Wellington. Our new dressmaker, Madame de Verney, from " Worth's," Paris, is the leading dressmaker in the colony. We guarantee perfect fit, and the latest styles and designs, as known only to French dressmakers. Our charges for making dresses are from 22s 6d at Te Aro House. Ladies can do their shopping by poet, and save the inconvenience of coming to town. Our order department has been enlarged, and 18 under most efficient management. Patterns of all our general drapery and dresses will be sent post free on application at Te Aro House.