The Manawatu Standard (PUBLISHED DAILY.) Suivant la verite. SATURDAY, SEPT. 22, 1885. THE SCHOOL INSPECTOR.

Manawatu Standard, Volume 4, Issue 249, 22 September 1883, Page 2

Manawatu Standard (PUBLISHED DAILY.) Suivant la verite. SATURDAY, SEPT. 22, 1885. THE SCHOOL INSPECTOR.

Several School Committees are mov-; ing m -the matter of a petition to the Education Board seeking to retain the present School- Inspector Mr Foulis, m that position. The following is the text; of the petition which is being circulated; "To the chairman and members of the Education ;-, Board.-w Gentlemen,— -The School Committee desire to make a representation to you on the subject oi the motion for the dismissal of the Ini spector, which is to be' brought forward at your next meeting. They do not presume *to say to what extent thie Inspector is. to be. .blamed, iv respect to the matters set forth m the said motion. But admitting that blame does •._ attach, ,to.. r jfcum,,, they, .cannot but feel that to visit the mistakes he has made' with dismissal would be to inflict a punishment far too severe, and they therefore deprecate the infliction of such a punishment. They would also urge on , your consideration his past services, which have beenl of ho little value, and the many excellent qualities by .which, he has shown hint., self to.be fitted for the office he fills-L his.pnprgy, his ppwer of 'organisation^ his experience, and bis fidelity to duty, and his most anxious desire to deal fairly with both teachers and scholar?. So far as this district ia concerned,^ the committee are -perfectly satisfied with the inspector^ work." We candidly confess our willingness^to a lmit that there is much that oan.be nr^ed m sdpbftrtof th' 4 prayer- of; the memorial. We do not say that Inspector Foulis is ou'r'beau ideal of all that a school inspector should or might \>p. Indeed, we have on more tban one Occasion pointed out certain imperfections m his official capacity. But we very much doubtJf a betier nil-round man will be found for the position. He may not he a finished scholar, or a man of very erudite or classical attainments ; has had large experience m the art and practice of. teaching. He is full of energy and enthusiasm, and. takes a deep interest m hie work. That he has faults and shortcomings, we admit, and we do not seek *o exculpate him from any ladies of which he- may have been guilty, either inadvertently or oserp-7se, But we gravely doubt the

wisdom of dismissing him, «nt are inc'ined to the opinion that a change will n<jt be found for the be;ter. Possibly another man may be obtained who is more eligible m some respeots, but may be "found deficient m v Allthings con-idered, we trust the JBducation Board will consider well before taking a step for which they may afcerwardß,fyave cau^-to. ., be. ._