THE WAIAREKA SCHOOL ENQUIRY. THE REVELATIONS.

North Otago Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8169, 29 April 1895, Page 3

THE WAIAREKA SCHOOL ENQUIRY. THE REVELATIONS.

An enquiry was opened on Saturday morning »t the Waiareka Sohool into certain allegations made by Mr P. B. Fraaer, the teacher, against Mr P. Goyen, of the Otago Education Board, the in« ■peotor. A committee of the whole Education Board had been appointed to make the enquiry, and thore were pra•ent Messrs Borrio, M'Gregor, M'Kerrow, Goyen, and Dr Stenhowe. Mr Borrie was elected Chairman. Mr P. G, Pryde, Secretary to the Board, was present, and Messrs Goyen and Fitzgerald were also in a'tendance. It was decided to hold the enquiry in public. The Press were admitted, and about 30 persons were present. The Chairman said the enquiry was to be held into certain allegation* made by Mr Fiaaer in his lettor to the Board of date the 19th November. [That letter hat already been published by us.] They wished to hsar evidence bearing on these statements. The Committee, while giving teacher and inspectors all latitude, woold have to confine evidence to these allegations, and would not permit going round the whole compass. Mr Frater said he was going to prove that he had not received fair play from the insp3Ctors, and would require to bring in evidence bearing on that letter not mentioned in it. lie would go round the whole compass. He would start by replying to Mr Goyen's reply, and he read his letter of the 19th November, the whole of which he said wai not published in the public prints. The part omitted had reference to hi* only having hid 121 days work with the children, and the report of the Inspector seemed to bear upon a whole year's work of the achool. Mr Frasor then proceeded to read a paragraph from Mr Goyen's lettor, laying that Mr Fraser'B charges were entirely false, and that when Air Fraser said he used (> invective and sarcasm " he was ata ting what was not true. In Mr Fraaer's reply to Mr Goyen'a reply, which Mr Frasor read at length, he criticised the conduct of Mr Goyen'a inspection of the school. He alleged that Mr Goyen did not examine the fifth and tilth standards as the inspector had affirmed. This, he eaid, was borne out by the statements of pupils and lady teaoher. Mr Frastr'a opening statements had proceeded for 50 minutes, when Mr Goyen rote and observed that it woold be impossible for him to keep in mind all the assertions made by Mr Fraser ; he could pot do so at any rate, and he suggested that (he B>ard should consider each count separately. The ' apparent difference between the mistress report and the report of the Committee could be fxphined in teu wordi. Mr Fraser taid he wiihed to op«n hit gait in his own way. Dr Btenhoust thought thai tioh ohargo fhoold bt dtalfa with separately. Maimi Cohen and M'Gregor laid It *m tht utUiloouMato puriut in holding

an enquiry, bub it would be fair to Mr Goyen to have Mr Frasers statement road again, clause by clauso, and although it would take time they cojld not holp that ; or Mr Goyon could aslr for timo to reply. Mr Goyen atid ho was satisfied if tho B ard would have the eh irges and statement* repeated. Hi was quite propircd to explain th^m, and was uitisfiod if thoy would h »vo tho charges ra read to permit : him to deal with each charge sep.rau-ly. tut Mr Fraa^r, ho thought, should confnio himself to fact*, and not rhetoric il ut'er trices. It wa< stated ihab Mr Fraser would c*U witnesses under each head, und Mr Guyen could examine thorn, and make hii own explanation of (he statements Mr Fraser then continued to roid his opening address, which dealt >»t groit length wiih roports of 1891, 1893, and 1894. Mr Frasor showoi depth and coherency in his reasoning, and lair] hare iho varying nhades and lights of these reports. What ho had nfc fir«fc regarded as insignificant and the result of mere accidont came home to him in the light of recent evonra fnughfc with intercut and power MrGoyeu'a grammir and English cimo in for a Nrge imount of a'tentiou, which was not at all complimentary to Mr Goyen. It seems thit Mr Frwaer h.d spelt "antecedent" with an "a" in the last syllable, andsoimnno had underlined tho eror; but Mr Fraser sn'd tlut in hi' bnok on composition Mr G lyeu had speit •' connection ' with an "x" The audience were do ighfod with Mr Goyen's grammar, and their exprfss ; on j of s.ti-fac ion Ind to b> res' rained by the chairman, who «uid that that was a judicial enquiry, and musi bo conductod with decorum. Leaving this ho dealt with tho ac'ion of hia " hostile " committee, of which Mr Will'ams w»s tho leader who had usfd, Mr Fnser alleged, the inspectors as sponsor for thn Committee's action in asking for his (Mr Fraaer's) dismissal or removal. Mr Fraser next poc<eded to r^fer to the surprise report of 1893 by Mr Petrie, spying it was responsible for the whole present enquiry. Mr Cohen stid, interrupting Mr Fraser, that the Committee could not deal wi h anything that was antecrdent to Mr Frasers letter of the 19 .h November, 1894. Mr Micgregor said that ib was tha Board's intention to hear all evidence bearing on Mr Goyen's inspection if it took a month, but they were noc to enquire into Mr Potrie's report. Dr Stenhouse and the chairman also concurred. Mr Frasor, however, read a notice from the Board on the 16th April as follows : "I have to inform you that at a meeting of the Education Board held today it was deoided to hold the Wairareka School enquiry [Mr Fr.iser : That Is as wide as the universe] at Waiareka oa Saturday, 27th instant, at 9 o'clock a.m. The enquiry will be held by the full Board. 1 ' Mr Fraser contended that what ho was going to state in relation to Mr Petrie's report bore upon the question, and he was uot respmsible for the Rubsequent action of the Bo»rd. He felt sure that this report of Mr Fetrie's inspection bore upon the question, and it was necos* sary for him to refer to it. Tho Chuirnun said the Committee had no power to deal with Mr Petrie'd report. Mr Fraaer held that tho present position arose out of Mr Petrie's report, and The Board considered that the quickest way to the end was to allow Mr Fiaser to proceed. Mr Fraser, who had already occupied two hours at tho work of introducing his case, proceeded to compare the reports of two schools by Mr Petrie — one his own, and the other called by Mr Fr»ser school " X." His school had been working at the time of Mr Pelrie'a surprise visit (September, 1893) 193 days, 37 pupils were presented, and 13 had failed. School "X" h.d worked 198 days, 33 pupils presented, and 8 failed. His school had 83 percentage of passes, and school " X " had 74 percentage, but the written report was very much in favor of school " X,",and Mr Frasar said he felt he hud been under unfair treatment for a long time. Notice of the measles epidemic was taken in the report of Fchool "X ;" but Mr Pet rio took no notice of the illnosB of h s scholars. Mr Fraser had alw*ya received good "flying visit " reports for the 10 years he had been in the Board's service, but Mr Petrio, in his report, said the reading of Mr Fraser'a scholars was 80 peculiar that "one was fain to account for it to some pccuUrily in tho air." This repot t came to him like a bulb out of a clear sky, and he beg^n to wonder tho why and wherefore. The school had bsen o'osed for three months through an epidemic ; and for Mr Petrie to write in that sarcastic way showed that he was incapable of arriving at a judicial decision. There were only fourteen teachers higher in the Board's service than himself, and only 58 higher in the colony. Mr Frasers statement, occupying fully two hours and a half in delivery, was extensively and elaborately compiled. Mr Cohen again 6ubmilted that the Board's remit would only allow them to go into anything bparing upon Mr Fraaer's letter of ihe 19 h November. Tha Board had declined to deal with Mr Frasers rupture with the old committee or Mr Petrie'a report and action. Mr Fraser would see ihat it would not be fair to Inspector Potrio to go into his report seeing the Board had no control over Mr Pettie and could not bring him face to face wiih Mr Fnser. Mr Fraser said he did not intend to oall evidence on these points, save in so far as Mr Petrie'a report bore on Mr Goyeu'a report. He would now call witnesses. Mr Goyen said he had no objection to Mr Fnsor pursuing the courso ho had laid down provided that he (Mr Goyon) was allowed to ask questions and make explanations as the examination of .witnesses went on. This was agreed to. Willie Calder was the first witnosa. Ho Baid he was not examined in history by Mr Goyen on the examination day. He was a Sixth Standard scholar. His claps was not examined. Mr Goyen : Are the other scholars here? Mr Fraser : It's not my business to get pupils for you. You should have looked atter that. Mr Goyen : Would Mr Fraser not ask questions leading to or suggesting the answer 1 Mr Fraser : Certainly I'll at>k leading questions or any other questions. All I want is answers. Mr Cohen sill that would not be allowed anywhere, and Mr Fra6er was asked not to put leading questions. The witness siid he remembered Mr Fraser asking him how long the scienoß examination lasted. He said it lasted [ only four or five minutes. Mr Fraser •eked all the questions in tho science examination. To Mr Goyen ; You asked me how the heart worked, but I don't remember any other question, and I did not hear Mr Frastr tik any queitioni, Mr Goyon obwrfad that Mr Fraier in hil ad4r«s« had laid he had wkfd tha qutitloni. Would Mf Frmr i»y wh»b qutationi bt aikid 1 Mr FtMK to Mr Gojini X oinnot «nitm)it to fijf whM ijmitipni J m!h6.

He did not know that he was oalled upon to answer Mr O^yeo. To Dr Ster.h<UBO : Witness said the inspector's manner was nob kind to witness To Mr Ooyon : You did not put the question kindly. I cannot say what wa9 in tlio inspector's manner to say that he >ms unkind. Mr Frasor : Wan there any d'fferenco between Mr Goycn'e nnd Mr Fitzgerald's manner 1 Mr Fi'zgerald objootod. Ho said that it was must unfeeling to have a question put liko that. It was not fair to at-k a pupil to in«ti'uto compariaons of an unf< olinpr kind. Mr Fr»ser : I' is an unfeeling bminoss all through, Mr Fitzgerald. That I can't help. Mr Gnyon h»d no objection to the question. Me Fi zjorald would have lutlo or nothing to say to the pupils, as he (Mr Goyjti) o<>nduo fd tl'e o al ox.imination. The witness said thit Mr Fi ss^ortkl npoko to him, and had a«ked witness two or three times if he had fini-ihod. A parent, who did not wish to be named, said that eho had two chi dren at school. Mr Fraaor a*kcd her whit flu children and ab< ut i he school wok on tlio day of ('X-tmirution nhi*n they went homo. Mr C ihen eaid that would not be evidence, Mr M*cgregor mid that the mention of tho f ict thtt tho clnldrcn made a remark was evidence, but not what they said A parent said they did m»ke a communication to her about tho history examination. George F.ilconer, 15 yoir», Sixth S'andtrd boy, said tho inspector did not examine his class in history, and he remirkod it when he went horae. Mr Goyon was nut kind to him. He wan very " crabby " with the scholars. (Luighter.) The Clnirman : Couldn't you givo us ano hftr word for "crabby I 1 ' (Ltughber.) Mr Goyon : That is i» vety good word. To Dr StenhouHe : The class was examint'd in a few minutes — not more than five or ten. To Mr Goyen : Whon told to sib down he would not expect tho inspector to a«y anything. (Laughter.) Y>u wero pretty well "cribby " with us in everything you did. You wero simply angry with us. To Mr Fraser : We could not pick up tho questi ma of Mr Goyen : they were said so fait. He was shaking himself because ho felt he did not know what was coming nexc. (Laughter) The inspector said they would foil in reading. Mr Goyon Raid he told them to road slowly and do their best. Tho witness said Mr Goyon did not a*y anything about their doing thoir best. Julia Falconer, 13 years, fifth cUss pupil, said hor class was nor examined in history. She said something about it when she went home. She did not gdt very long in scienc*. Mr Goyen did not i nut them with kindness. To Mr Goyen : She did nob remember how or in what w»y he was unkind. You weren't very nice with us. Ho did not say *' my d< ar "do it this way, Mr Goyen spoke slow enough for her to c»tch all he said. Tho science cUes ex^ aminution would rccupy about five minute?. You only askod mo one quo - tion. It was about the pa-sing of tho blood through the hoait. To Mr M.icgrogor : She did not romember whether tho wholo of tho children were asked questions or not. Mr Fitzgerald Haid that the way they were examined was that a question was pub to the wholo class, ami they wero asked to hold up their hands if thoy knew the answer. Mr Goyon said the passes wore not, however, made on th*t test. The witness snid Mr Goyen asked them all about the heart and blood. To the Chairman : Mr Fraser did not ask any questions. He was sure of that. Amelia Miller, 14 years, Sixth Standard pupil, came 4£ miles to Fchool. Hor class was not examined in history on tho day of examination. The science examination occupied about four or five minutes. Mr Goyen treated her and the class in a sharp manner. She would have answered Mr Fraser batter than Mr Goyen, becauso Hhe knew Mr Frasor. Mr Goyon spoke rapidly, and wbb pretiy cro^s. She did not remember anything about Mr Goyen'a saying that he would fuil her in tho roading. Chrissie Jackson, 11 years, Fourth Standard, eaid that hor class was not examined in history on tho exatnlna'iou day. Hor class was not examined in science. Mr Goyen said that the two higher classes wero examined, becaufio that was to tho advantage of the school and teacher. It was presumed that tho higher classes were best, and it was to find out whit was best in tho ecionco classes that the inspection was conducted. Mr Fraser said it waw n matter of accident, not design at all, that this class was left out. Mr Goyen said ib was a matter of design, and was done in ordor to know what was boat in the school. To the Cuairman : In what manner did Mr Goyen treat you 1 Witness : I don't remember. To Mr Macgregor : Mr Gcyen put his questions quickly. She did not romember if he repeated tho questions. Ho spoke quioteßt to the boys, and she did not notice if the biys seemed to understand him. (laughter). To Mr Fraser : Mr Goyon appeared to give tho class full time to ro.d. The scholars said they did not like Mr Goyon »ory much, but they gave no reason. Jane Mahoney, 12yo«ra, Fourth Standard, said her class was not examined in history. To Mr M*»cgregor : Sho did not know the number in the class. She gob on pretty well, and passed. The inspector wai a little stern. (Laughter). It made moja little nervous. To Mr Fi zjjer^ld : Mr Fraser was never stern. (Laughter). To Mr Macgregor: She always felt nervous when being examiued, bub was more nervous that day than usutl because she whs afraid she would fail. She hid never been examined before by Mr Goyem Mr Peirie »nd Mr Taylor had examined hor before. Mr Goyen pointed out that his oxaminrtion of this girl was that he had " marked" her as not reading up to tho regulation standard ; bub hor arithmetic was so tiear a pass, and putting her ins different reading down evidently to nervousness he had given the pupil a full pass ; and that was tho treatment that ran through the wholo examination. Yet it w&8 said that ho had been harsh, severe, and hid poured invectivo and sarcasm on tho children, to the hurt of the teacher. It was absurd. Maria Clark, Fifth Standard, 13 years, corroborated the previous witnesses as to the history and science examinations. There was no history, and science oocupied five minutes. She mentioned that there was no history to Daisy Falconer and Dora Williams, and was pleased at hiving miased it. There were nob many questions pat (n tolenoe. Mr Goyen. tnd Sir FrMtr put th« questions, bub Mr Gojrtn Mkta moit. Mr Guy»n put hit quMtloni In % " n»»ty" manner. (Laugh* t«r), 8h« did not tiptot inipiobori to bt "nMtjr," Hi wm »!*•;• grumblipfi

Ho grumbled at her and *• passed' hor." She had been examined by Mr Goyen bpf. r.\ bub did nob remember hia manner previously. Willio Henderson, 14 yearn, Fifth Sbuulard, said hisolnsswas not examined in hiptoty. The aoietice examination listed four or fivo minutes. To Mr Goyen : Mr Goyen examined the clufli iv flounce and naked nil iho questions. He did not remember what tlio science w>B about. It was about motion, but ho did not know vrlnt it was about. Ibwai not about his body. To Mr Macgregor : It wus about physiology. Ho remembeml now thHt it was about the body and about (ho heart's action Mr Frnfler did not, 'as f*r as ho rememborod, a"-k any question*. The scholars in this clif-a had to answer pretty emartly, aa Mr Goyen was in a hurry. Mr Goyen was protty slurp in not giving much time to anawr-r question*. [Mr Fraeer s*id he wou'd swoar th»t ho had not spoken to tho pupils about what they had to a%y at tho enquiry.] To Mr Goyen : He would expect a reasonable time to answer. Mr Fraser said, in roply to a question, tint he knew nt the time that history was not oxftininod. Mr Goyon said ho did rememb<r put- ' ting a quesiion about respiration, and had a«ked one of them if they had seen tho I lunga of »ny aninnl, and ono girl fluid that she had aeon the lights of an animal in a butcher's shop, and ho t< ok it that the anfiwor was a very good ono. Mr Frafior e.iid his n collection was entirely the opposite of that, and none of the pupils examined had been atked tint question. An adjournment was mado ab this stage, for halfvin-hour, and on resuming, tho attendance being increased, Mr Fraser called John Dyers, farmer, who Faid ho h«d children at tho aihoul. 110 met Mr Joseph Williimß in Flomitg and Hidley's office, O.imaru, niter tho committee resigned. Witness fluid that Rlr Wil Ii»m8 aa'd that ih-y had asked «n explanation from tho lo oho--, who lud " b<u" on him. Tho Commttteo said tho Board took no notice of thoni, and th» y rosignod, bundling the bonks nil down to the Board. The Committee mid they wanted a change. But Mr Williams' Btatomont was misleading. ! To Mr Willuma: They may have spoken at the yards. Mr WiUhma said tho conversation was not correct. To Mr Cohen : The conversation roferred to did not take placo in the preBonco of Mr Goyen. [Offing to tho longth of tho report, wo are compelled to hold over the remainder ttll 10-moirow ]