THE WAIAREKA SCHOOL ENQUIRY.

North Otago Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8171, 1 May 1895, Page 3

THE WAIAREKA SCHOOL ENQUIRY.

The enquiry was continued at the Eluciiion Board's office on Monday night, when tliesamo members of the Board woro ptosent. Mr Fitzgerald said ho wa9 in attendanco in a duil capacity. Ho was involved to a certain extent in the complaint imdo by Mr Fraser, and he was there also as a witness. He would like very much to speak in the firs- plica with regard to that part of the complaint which affected himself, and aftorwwrds to give what evidence ho had to give in connection with the cage. Mr Frtser said there wis abso'utely no charge made by him againstMr Fitzgera'd, and it seemed to him rather unfair that Mr Fitzgerald should be placed alongside of Mr Goyen, as it made the ea o more difficult for him (Mr Fraser.) Mr Fitzgerald explained that ho was responsible for the spelling of the Fourth Standard, and he wished to take what responsibility attached to him in the ca^e. Mr Goyen said tho report on the examination was written by Mr Fitzgerald and himself, and it was obrious that both inspectors wero responsible for it, and it was intendod that both inspectors shoull sign it, although by some oversight Mr Fitzgerald had not done 00. Mr Fraser knew perfectly well that Mr Fitzgerald was as much responsible for the eximination as himself (Mr Goyen). Mr Fra9er renmked thtt this was the first time that ho knew that Mr Fitzgerald was a party to the present case. After somofurther discussion Mr Goyen, to save any further trouble, agreed to take all responsibility in regard to tho rpport. He then proceeded ti cay that Mr Fraser charged him with harshness sarcasm, asperity, severity, etc In support of theso charges he hidcaUtd eight pupils out of 40 in his cltss ; but so far as they were concerned, there was not one bit of evidence as regarded fho charges. There were three cominittoemen present at the examination — namely Messi a Wade, Willett, and \Villi»mj ; and to these ho had written with reference to the charges made by Mr Fraser. In reply Mr W^de mid, "With regard to your manner towards Mr Fraser and his pupils I certainly do not think there is any justification for the terms you underline in the extract." Mr Wi'let wroto : "I do not consider you mado use of any expressions to justify Mr Fraser saying you were sarcastic or used invective against MrFrtser. You were a little sharp in the Third Standard, as tho answers were not given with dospatch. , . ." Mr Williams wro'o •>t>iting that he (Mr Goyen) treated Mr Fraser and his pupils with the greatest courtesy. He (Mr Goyen) went on tosiy th*t Mias Andrew, who was examined by Mr Fraser, s-iid that his (Mr G. yen's) manner towards Mr Frasers pupils was quite different to his manner towards hers. Now, ho did not wish to accuse Miss Andrew of untruthfulnessi, but he distinctly said that that was not a fact. He treated Mr Frasor's pupils with tho greatest kindness, as he di I all chi'dron with whom ho came in contact, and Mr Frasers allegations with reference to his conduot were untrue. This chargo, t,o far as his manner towards the children was concerned, was misrepresentation from beginning to end. Mr Fitzgerald, in giving evidenco with regard to his examination of tho spelling in examining Standard IV, said he sehc'ed from the reading book a passage almost at random, and he was very much disappointod with the result. Tlio epeljing of the other standards he considered good ; the spelling of the Fourth Scandard ho conbidered poor. When it came to referring to tho spelling in tho report Mr Goyen suggested that they should not I enter the word "poor,"' and ho (Mr Fitzgerald) agreed to that. Iho fact of tho matter was that all through their work Mr Goyen ag*in and again modified his (Mr Fi'zgerald h) estimate. He was a new hand at tho work, and possibly his ideal for a class was too high. Ho believed that with the knowledge he had now that his ideal was too high, and that if Mr Goyen influenced him at all it was in the direction of giving credit to the teacher or school which was under consideration. Dr Stenhouso asked if, in estimating the spelling in the Fourth Standard, Mr Goyen took the circumstance of the year into consideration 1 Mr Fitzgerald replied that neither of them lost sight of that. Tho concluding paragraph of the report, which shoulJ be read into everything tlut went before, Baid : "TIIO school was closed during about one-third of tho year, and to this circums anco may bo aecibed much of, but not all, the unsatisfactory answering in the present examination," They lnd had that before their oyes, and thoy did not think they woro warranted in concluding their work without putting that paragraph before the Board. Mr Fraser ' hud compared his school and another school in the matter of spelling. He (Mr Fitzgorttld) had examined the school to which reference had been mado. In the school in question, which Mr Fraser had alluded to as X school, there were 16 pupils, and ten mistakes in spelling had to be distributed amongst that number ; but in the Waiareka school there were eight pupils and 16 mistakes. Now, 16 mistakes amongst eight pupils could not bo called good spelling. In roply to the Chairman, Mr Fraser said he did not wish to aßk any questions at tho present stage. Mr Fitzgerald asked Mr Fraser if he would withdraw his statement now about the spelling. Mr Fraser replied that he was not such a fuol to do so. He' would conduct his own case in his own way. Mr Fitzgerald said with reference to a statement that had been made, that the ohildreu had not been examined in hiibory, ho remembered diitlnotly dlioueiing in Mr Fraser'a room the question whjoh tubjeott had been examined, and

ho, Mr Goyen and Mr Fraser agreed thai nil BuMccta had boen oxxmined oxcopl dr 11. Ho was quito prepared to give marks for drill, beo'imo he had obierved tho result of driil. Mr F.aser, however, did not seem to caro to take last year* estimate for drill, »nd thoy o*mo to the conclusion to report d ill as not exam.ned. Ho certainly lefr the sohool in tho bJief thit every subject had boen taken except drill. Mr Goyon said tho inspectors usually had a square form to fill up in examining in Oidi subjict ; but at Waiareka they h^d none of tlio c o fornu, and consequently had to make their notes on a piece of papor. All tho children in their ovidenco said that he did not examine in history. Ho should have discovered that if ho had had the form he alluded to b fore him, ;md he should havo known if Mr Friser h d done his duty and had called his attention to tho omission. Mr Fnsei, however, blamed him for what ho himself was partly responsible for. As to the s a'ement tint ho had reported upon a subject which he had not examined, he explalnod that he had been working 15 hours on the day he made out the report. At the time he did rhia he had beford him n»ti a of the examination of another school beside tho W-<iireki fchrol, nid may have inadver.ent y transcribed the wrong notes into the teport. In r< gard 'o Mr Fraaer'a assert i< n that the examination of tho school only las'od about fivo houw, Mr Goyon sa'ed that he started wot k examining the copy and exoroiso bocks at n quattor to 9, and continued tho general oxaininition till 4 in the afternoon, oven working while he was having his lunch. What Mr Fraser had said as to tho time t lidt whs taken in exunining tho school wns deliberately untruo, and in regard to wlnthesaidas to (he inwinor in which the examinations were conducted, ho (Mr Goyen) replied that Mr Frasor was übiont from tho room during a great part of the examination. It struck him at tho time that Mr Fraser was a great deal absent from tho room — in fact nearly half the time tho oximination was being conducted. Ho would ask Mr Fitzgerald t'» to nty what he knew of Mr Fraser'a absence from the room. Mr Fitzgerald observed that Mr Fraser was giving dictation to the pupils in tho room where he (the eptaker) wag, and he said to him that he ought to poo the examination that was being conducted by Mr Goyen. He wenb to his room, but returned, and tho speaker requested him to go back again. Dr S'enhouse : How long was he away ? Mi Fitzgenld : I can't say. Mr Fraser : Say Romothing. Mr Fiizgorsld : I can't say. There his been too much estimation of tho time taken to do this and tho timo taken to do that already. Mr Goyen added tha h ho thought Mr Fraser was absent during the eximinaiion of one ola^s, bicauso ho remembered *nying to him that he was dissatisfied with tho loading Mr Fraser, ho continued, went on to say that the scholars were present, and ho was tho mistress, who wero well informed as to whab went on during his absonco, and it was not truo that ho loft tho sohool. He (Mr Goyen) had not satf that Mr Fraserleft tho school, but that ho was absent from tho room. It was also stated that he (Mr Goyon) had occupied his time in pursuing a new system of examination in rogard to comprehension. This wnB not UUt>, and he went on to explain tho system he adopted, and after rep'ying to tho strictures passed by Mr Fraser as to the manner in which English had been examined, referred to tho statement that had beon made th»t instead of trying to find out whab the children knew, ho spent his timo in trying to find out what they did not know. Such a suggestion was absurd. It would be foolish of him to occupy his time in finding out what the children did not know. The systom he pursued might nol plonso all the teachers, but it plonsod most of them. Tho best of them ho tr.od to please. He did not care about the rest. In regard to the science question, he etiid that Mr Fraser had given him a list of tho work done, and he proceeded to examine the pupils in tho circulation of the blood and respiration. The children did not appear to know much abcut it, and he suggested another subject ; but Mr Fraser replied th vt it wis of no use — he had not had the time he usually had* in instruct* ing tho class in this Bubject owing to the year being a short one. That was the tenor of Mr Frasers remarks on thia subject". It was sheer nonsonso to say that the examination only lasted a few minutes. Then, again, Mr Fraser Btid that he (Mr Goyen) had asked questions that he nor anyone elso could answer, and cited as a specimen the following : " What happflns to the blood when it passes from the capillaries into tho tissues V He said, in loply, that tho question was not asked. Mr Fraser : I will rfpoat tho question and swear to it. " What happens to tho blood when it passes from the capillaries into the tissues 1 Mr Goyen : I donv it. Mr Fraser : And I swear to it. Mr Goyon went on to cay, in regard to Mr Frasers statement that Standard II was not t'xarriried in poetry, that he firmly believed that Standard II was not oxamined in pootry. Although Miaa Andrew donied it, sho was absent from tho room during tho lirao her classes were being examined. Ho was oonfident sho was out in the hall many times. Ho believed that nil the work of Standard II was examined. His reports woro a transoription of his notes, and there must havo boon those notes of his examination in Standard II to have caused him to writo tho remarks ho had in his repott. He believed firmly the classes were examined in poetry and examined in their exercises. He would cill on Mr Fi'zgerald to say if he did not see him consulting his notes night after night when the reports woro being written, and whether he consulted his notes on this particular occasion. Me Fitzgerald said ho remembered the occasion distinctly. Mr Goyon had hia notes on the Flag Swamp Sohool and tho Waiareka School on tho tablo boiido him. His notes were consulted with regard to cvory paragraph written in the repot t. When he finished it ho crushed hia notes and threw them into tho firo, which he usually did. That was the reason why he could not produco them now. Tlioso were the circumstances under which he wrote tho report?. It was quite possible that he might have looked at tho wrong notes. He beliovod privately he had. The notes wero written on narrow strips of piper. Mr Goyen remarked that ho did not remember the description of the paper on which the notes were written, but after 15 hours' work he might havo made a mistake. Mr Frasor bfnrraed that the mistress did not leave the room, but ho (the speaker) said she did absolutely. Miss Andrew had said that she know the children wero not examined in poetry, bat if she did, it was hor duty to oull his atteution to the deficiency. It was further stated that the ohildren themselves stid they wore not examined in this subjeot, but he contended that children wero least of all likely to remember what they were examined in. The examination neoeia»rily flurried them, and they would not likely remember e/ery thing that took place, The ipeaker next; referred to th* word he had underlined in Mr FrMor's letter, *nd which word wm misiptlltdi »nd tho rtply that the Iniptoto* )»4 csiid hiwiclf in siting "qwwxiw"

instead of "oonnecion." He contended that the former was right and tho litter wrong. Tho latter form appeared often in newspapers, and was probibly of an Americui origin. Ho had novor said ono word of disparagement against Mr Fraser until tho latter nndo this attack on him, but had alwnys spoken and written of Mr Franor in torms altogether diffcront from those in which Mr Frasor had snokfn of him. Mr F asor propounded thatheoiy that Mr Petrie and himsolf (Mr Goyon)lind made up their minds not to soe uny thing good in his work. In 1880, however, he (Mr Goyon) reported as follows on Mr Fraser'a eohool : "This cchool has been taught in a very thorough :md intelligent manner. Tim results R*inod-Hro excellent. . . ." In 1887 he reported : " This Bohool is in excellent condition. It continues lo be managed and taught in a very able manner. I shall bo glid to sco Mr Fraser in oh »rgo of a much larger nohool tlun t' is." In 1890 ho wrote : " Me Frasor's department is woll managed nnd thoroughly tauf>h>." In 1891 he reported ; " Mr Frasor's dof/ftrtment is woll managed and intelligently tiught, and thoro is a good working spirit amongst his pupils." Tho'e wore the only reports, except the ono under consideration, that he (Mr Goynn) had over made of Mr Fnoer's work. He thought no ono would venture to sty that those reports were prejudiced against Mr Fraser. If there was any prejudice it was in Mr Frasers f ivor. S >mo timo ago there was a dispute between Mr Fraser and hie oommitteo. The secretary of the Board and himself (Mr Goyen) were appointed to inquire into the matter, and they gave juJgment in favor o( Mr F-a3or. That did not seem to ba tho work of prejudiced men. Then ho had frequontly spoken of Mr Frasor as an a bio littlu man, and as a nica little man ; and hid nlsj said that ho liked him. Mr Fitzgerald staged that Mr Goyon had spoken to him in the manner referred to by the latter on tho morning th< y went to eximino the school. On thai ooosion Mr Goyen had prejudiced him decidedly in favor of Mr Fraser. Mr Goyon said, as to Mr Potrio's report on the school, ho nover know of it until Mr Frasor told him about it at the school. Mr Fwser. before replying, referred to a letter which he had seen in one of tho newspapers in which the question was discussed as to whothor he had a " clean sheet "or otherwise. Tho lo'tor in question, he stated, wis signed by one who now appearod at tho board as ono of his judges. Mr Cohon most strongly objected to Mr Frasor travolling beyond what thoy woro mot that night to considor. Tho Chairman said ho must uphold Mr Oohon'a objeo'ion, and rule that Mr F.asor in replying couid not go outside what had coino to light during the inquiry. Mr Frasor said ho wished just to say in one sentonco that ho hal protested against ono of tho judges in tho cieo appearing in tho public prints while tho case was in progross. Ho proceodul to say that Mr Goyou's explanation was ono long, disingenuous subterfuge quite contrary to reason and to fact. If ho lnd brought ono single witness to contradict one single fact it would have been moro to tho point. With ono exception, not a statement that ho (Mr Friser) lnd ninde hid been rofuted. Up to the timo of Mr Goyon's last visit to his school ho lnd spokm aa well of Mr Goyon a.i Mr Goyen seemed to have spuken of him. Tho last timo Mr Goyen oxaminod tho school, howovor, ho actod tho part of a paiish Pope. He wanted to appear a great mun, and make him (Mr Fr^sor) appear a very little one. Ho (Mr Fiasir) never suffered anything so painful ;is tho exhibit ion Mr Goyen endeavored to nuku of his scholars in front tho committeomen. Ho whs prepared to swear to overy stMoment ho lud made with rogard to Mr Goyen, and tho board hud to judgo botween his voracity and tliab of tho inspector. This concluded tho inquiry, and tho board decided to hold another meeting to consider the ovidonce.