HEAD MASTER V. SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 3769, 20 August 1907, Page 2

HEAD MASTER V. SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

To the Editor. Sir. — I read your leader re the above sqabble appearing in last Saturday’s issue. To an outsider and an entirely disinterested party, I think you, in your leader, did not show the courtesy you ought to have done to the School Committee. What you stated as to the head master’s position is law no doubt, but in his report to the Committee, he shows a most lamentable want of courtesy and tact. I think he has been nearly eight months in charge of the school, and if if is still necessary for him to put children down in their standards, what has he been doing during the eight months he, has been here. Some children, to my personal knowledge, have been put down two standards. If a school is to be made efficient at the expense of the children just to show good results for an examination, then the sooner such examinations is done away with the better. The head , master, with the experience he has, must know that there is nothing more disheartening to children than adopting the methods he has done. Would it not have been far better, seeing the children had received the number of marks which entitled them to be in a higher standard, to have gone on until next examination, then, if they were not fit to pass, keep them in the same standard. for another year. No one would have blamed the present master, and everyone would have been satisfied and the children would not have been discouraged. The head master casts very grave reflections on the inspector’s work, and in this alone, shows a lamentable want of discretion. To read his report and his dictating to the Committee what was their duty, looks as if he is lacking that gen - tlemanly manner one would expect to find in a man holding the position he does. But he will need to try and remember the Committee are not children who can be ruled by the rod, but gentlemen, giving their services free to assist the interests of education generally, and whose duty it is to see that even the headmaster does his duty. Trusting everything will now run s noothly, and that our worthy Chairman of the Committee will re-consider his resignation, and all try to pull together with a long stroke and a strong stroke.—l am, etc.,

He-ha-ho. [Our correspondent’s remarks on the whole conflict with facts. The most biassed partisan cannot accuse us of discourtesy to the Committee. The public can form their own conclusion as to whether the head master has “ shown discourtesy ” or “ want of tact ” in dealing with the Committee. The children were put back by the head master only after consultation and with the approval of the Inspector. Wherein then has a reflection been cast on the Inspector ? F'urther comment is needless. —Ed. H.] ■