EDUCATION BOARD.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4450, 24 June 1875, Page 2

EDUCATION BOARD.

Wednesday, June 23. An adjourned meeting of the Board was held at 11 a.m. Present—Messrs, Brandon (chairman), Bunny, Hutchison, Lowes, Pharazyn, and Toomath. The Secretary and Inspector of Schools were also in attendance. MINUTES. Tho minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. FINANCE. The Secretary reported the debit balance at the bank to be—according to the ledger, £505 16s. Id.; according to the bank book, £307 12s. 2d. He explained that the difference was occasioned by the fact that cheques which had been forwarded up country had not yet been presented. In answer to a question, ■ The Secretary stated the rates were coming in pretty freely, and in but few instances were they in arrears. Tho rates for the new year would soon be due. He suggested that he should be authorised to make application to the Provincial Government for a quarter’s instalment of the year's grant of £3OOO, that would be £750. There would be a heavy draw for salaries and new buildings at the end of the present month, amounting to nearly £IOOO, so that amount would be required. The necessary authority was given. THE LATE FLOGGING CASE. The Secrtary said the next business would be to consider Mr. Mowbray’s report. Since last meeting he had, according to instructions, requested Mr. -Pilkington to attend, and Mr. Johns had sent a letter asking that he might be present, and also that Mr. Allan might appear. At the request of the Chairman, Mr. . Mowbray’s report was read as follows ; “ Thorndon School, “Wellington, June 14. “Sir,—l have the honor to report, for the information of tho Board, that on Monday, 7 th lust., on account of illness,' X was unable to attend to my usual duties, and the school was left in the charge of Mr. Pilkington, my assistant teacher. “In the course of the afternoon school several boys proved grossly insubordinate, Thomas Johns and one other, who has since apologised, being reported to me as the ringleaders. Mr. Pilkington was compelled to resort to corporal punishment, and as the boys refused to hold out their hands, they were caned on their hacks, three or four stripes being given to each. Johns then became very insolent, calling the teacher names, and received another caning. He then attempted to run out of school, and also threatened to throw the inkstand at Mr. Pilkington’s head, and was punished a third time. “ The aggregate number of stripes given Mr. Pilkington declares not to have been greater than fifteen, and this is confirmed by the testimony of such boys as I have questioned. Mr. Johns summoned Mr. Pilkington before the Resident Magistrate on Thursday last, and the,

Bench, deciding that the punishment was somewhat in excess of the moderate punishment allowed by law, fined him 20s. and costs. There is now evidence that the whole disturbance was premeditated by Johns, and I therefore trust that the Board will mark their sens e of the boy’s conduct by excluding him from all schools under their government,.until he makes full apology for his misconduct. —I have, &c., “W. Mowbray. “ To the Secretary, Board Education.” The Chairman said : I was present during the whole of the case, not on behalf of either party, but merely to watch the matter for my own information, and the impression I derived from hearing the case was that there had been a determination on the part of Johns and the other boys to have a row in the school. In my mind there is no doubt that young J ohns deserved punishment, and though the chastisement was a little severe, I do not see how you are to draw the line as to the amount of caning to be given to boys. I am perfectly satisfied of this, that if a school is to be property conducted and discipline maintained, the use of the 'cane must he allowed. This hoy was evidently the chief ringleader. Mr. Lowes thought there was very little doubt of that. Mr. Bunny said he was glad the chairman had given so decided an opinion. When they adjourned the last meeting it was merely that they might get his opinion on the subject, he having been in court the whole time. The Chairman added that he thought Mr. Pilkington had acted firmly, as he should have done. The hoys evidently wanted to get out of school, and if Mr. Pilkington had not been firm, they would have succeeded and have got away home. Mr. Hutchison said that, with respect to Mr. Johns’ request to he present, he could scarcely understand why he should have made the request, for lie did not see the utility of his appearance. Certainly, he might come if he chose, and so might Mr. Allan, hut not to take any part in the proceedings. The Board meetings were quite public, and any one might come who liked. Mr. Bunny was not aware that the Board meetings were public. The Secretary : The resolution only admits the Press. Mr. Hutchison : I have always understood that the meetings are held in public ; and if it is not so understood, I will give notice to move that the meeting he made public. The Chairman ; The Press represents the public, and that is the same thing. , There’s no room here for all comers. Mr. Hutchison : If the room is open to the Press it is open to the public. The Chairman differed. He had always understood they were a close Board. Mr. Hutchison : I never have. The Chairman ; At one time we did not admit the Press, and the reason the meetings were thrown open to the Press was because as there was one of the members connected with the Press it was but fair to admit the others. _ Mr. Hutchison contended it was a public meeting, hut would not move in the matter until a new Board was elected. The discussion on this point then dropped, and Messrs. Pilkington and Johns and young Johns were called in. The Chairman (addressing Mr. Johns) said: I have reported to the Board that I was present during the hearing of the case in court, though I took no part in the proceedings or in any way interfered with the Justices on the bench, and I consider that although the punishment was rather severe, yet it was deserved, as there was apparently a determination among the hoys to have a row in the school, and your boy appeared to be one of the ringleaders or instigators. In my judgment the caning was absolutely, necessary. It appeared that he wanted to get away home, and if punishment had not been given the discipline of the school would have been destroyed. Further, I think if the Bench had dismissed the case with, a caution, or at all events with a nominal fine, that would have been sufficient. You may now make any observations you please. ■ - Mr. Mowbray’s report was here read again. Mr. Johns said : The report of Mr. Mowbray is really no evidence at all, for he was ill in bed at the time, it appears, and therefore unable to say anything about the occurrence. I have brought the boy here to-day, gentlemen., and you may examine him as you please ; he has not had the slightest intimation from me as to what to say, so that you will be able to decide clearly as to how far he was wrong. With respect to the assertion of Mr. Pilldngtou that he is an unruly boy, I may state that I have never heard of such a complaint before. The former assistant teacher, iu a letter to me, gave the hoy an excellent character ; in fact, no father could wish for a better character for Hs son. It is a character that will last him throughout his career. ■lt described him as a quiet orderly hoy. I am sorry it has been mislaid somewhere, hut I was only looking at it a clay or two previous to this occurrence. The Chairman ; But-the-evidence of -the boy himself, as well as that of other boys, showed that he behaved very badly towards Mr. Pilkington. He refused to hold out his hand, called him names, and so forth. Mr. Johns : Yes, hut unfortuuately Mr Pilkington did not hear the names. The Chairman : But the other hoys did.

Mr. Johns ; Then Mr.' Pilkington could not have punished him for impudence, because lie did not hear him. If the boy had done wrong I would not have shielded him. I had no object to serve in getting Mr. Pilkington fined, or to get money out of him. I would have paid the money myself. It Mr. Pilkington had come to me and apologised to the boy, the case should never have gone into court. But I consider it my duty, as his father, to take his part, if the whole province were against him, if he is illused. There is no one who would uphold proper management and discipline in a school more than I. Tiie Chairman said it was clearly proved that the boy had been behaving improperly. When he was first punished it was for talking. Mr. Johns ; He tells me that he merely asked the next boy where the lesson was, and that he was immediately called out. Ho refused to hold out his hand because he was sensible that he was about to be punished unjustly. I think that showed his firmness in the truth. Mr. Toomath considered that an important point. (To Mr. Johns) t You say your son was called out for a crime he had never committed, and that he was merely asking where the lesson was, when he received punishment,‘and that he refused to hold out his hand, because he was about to receive punishment for an offence he had never committed ? Mr. Johns : Yes. The Chairman : Ho such statement as that was made in court. Mr. Toomath : The question is not so much what was stated in court as whether the statement made now is true. The Chairman remarked that Mr. Pilkington would perhaps give some information on the point. Mr. Pilkington : I cannot say whether or not he was asking: where his lesson was. He had been misbehaving himself previously by continuously talking, and when I on this occasion saw his head close to the next boy, I sent him out. This offence was merely a repetition of the manner in which he had been conducting himself for some ‘ time.: The statements made by witnesses at the court were that he had been misbehaving himself so as to be sent out. That, I should think, is sufficient. Mr. Hutchison : I consider • the simple point on which this matter turns is, Did the teacher unnecessarily flog the boy ? Mr. Pharazyn (to Mr. Johns): You should have taken the boy and let him apologise to Mr. Pilkington, and then could have set the matter right. Mr. Johns would have been happy to have done so if he had believed the boy to have been in the wrong. Mr. Toomath proposed to ask the boy some questions, but The Chairman said they were not there to try the question again ; that had been done in the Resident Magistrate’s Court. Mr. Toomath and Mr. Hutchison objected to this ruling, the former gentleman making some remark (inaudible to our reporter) to the effect that the Board was not pursuing a

similar course to that taken in a previous case of the same character. They were there to pronounce a decision, and should be at liberty to ask any questions. The Secretaky remarked for the information of the Board; that the case to which Mr. Toomath referred was that of Mr. Garrick, of Tawa Flat. The matter had never been brought before the Board. He was fined, and took his punishment in silence. Mr. Bunny said the only question they had to consider was, whether upon, the evidence given, they would grant the request of Mr. Mowbray and exclude the boy from all their schools, unless an apology were made. Mr. Toomath said no doubt Mr. Bunny had hit the nail on the head, but he (Mr. Toomath) wanted to know who was right. The boy ' alleged he had been punished in the first instance for a crime he did not commit, and that after misconduct arose out of that. Mr. Betray observed that there had been no such evidence given before the court. Gentlemen of the legal profession had been engaged on either side, and doubtless they got out of their witnesses every particle of evidence necessary, yet that never came out till now. Mr. Toomath ; I understand we have to decide upon the letter. If so, X want to get the facts. Mr. Bunny : There is the evidence that was given on oath before the court, and also what the Chair-man himself has said. Mr. Toomath : AVo have not the evidence that was brought before the court. Mr. Benny : Everybody has seen it. Mr. Hutchison ; The letter of Mr. Mowbray does not tally with the evidence. There is a contradiction, and we have a right to see which is correct. Dr. Diver, who saw the lad’s back, and should be better able to judge, says thirty lashes were given. The Secretary : Doctor Diver says three dozen. Mr. Hutchison : I spoke merely from memory; but Mr. Mowbray’s letter says he gave fifteen only. The Chairman thought they were entering into new matters that had nothing to do with their decision. There could be no doubt the boy had been grossly impudent, and nothing could f excuse the threat to throw an inkstand at the teacher. Mr. Toomath said the very letter opened up new questions. Mr. Bunny : Mr. Mowbray’s letter does not open up any new matter ; there is only a difference as to the number of cuts given with the cane. Mr. Hutchison : A very important point that. Mr. Pharazyn (to Mr. Pilkington) : Other boys were punished the same, where they not ? Mr. Pilkington : Pretty well the same, I could not compare the punishments so as to mve a direct answer. ° j£r. Johns said if he had known, he would

have got a copy of the depositions. The Chairman : Oh, I recollect the evidence very well. I know this, there was a decided attempt at insubordination. Mr. Johns : There may have been among some of the boys, but my boy was not the ringleader. Mr. Pilkington : Clearly your son had been trying to get up a row in order that he might be sent out. He wished by his -wilful misbehaviour to cause a collision with me. That was sworn to in court. What clearer evidence you could want, X don’t know. Mr. Hutchison wished to bring the matter to an issue. There were two questions. The first was—Hid Mr. Pilkington, in the exercise of his duty as teacher, exceed the amount of punishment to be given to any boy no matter whatever the offence might be ? and the other was, Were they to agree to the proposition in Mr. Mowbray’s letter, and exclude the boy from all the schools? He considered Mr. Pilkington’s conduct had been indefensible, and did not believe the Board had the power to exclude the boy. Mn Pharazyn did not so look at the matter. If he had a boy who had so acted, he would have thrashed him within an Inch of his life. Mr. Hutchison ; That may be. I would punish a boy of my own in a manner, and for offences that I would not allow a teacher to punish him. Mr. Pharazyn ; And further, if the boy would not make an ample apology, I would exclude him from all schools under the Board. Mr. Toomath ; You have no power to do that. Mr. Johns : I am not prepared to allow him to apologise. Mr. Pharazyn : Then let him take the consequences. Mr. Johns would, if he thought the boy wrong, punish him severely for any offence against order—perhaps more severely that Mr. PUkington, but for all that he would not allow mm to°be punished in the manner he had been by Mr. Pilkington or Mr. anybody else. The Chairman repeated his opinion that there had been gross insubordination, and that young Johns had been one of the ringleaders, and that being so he must apologise. Mr. Johns: I will send him to another school ; I can pay for him. The Chairman : Perhaps you will take time to consider. Mr. Johns : No ; my mind is made up, and my determinations are like those of the Medes and Persians. Mr. Pharazyn : Then I move that unless young Johns make an apology he be expelled from the school, and be not allowed to enter any school under the Board. Mr. Toomath : It is useless to move that, for any court of law would, decide that you have no power to refuse admission’into our schools. The motion, having been duly seconded, was carried, the division list showing Ayes ; Bunny, Pharazyn, and Lowes ; Noes ; Toomath and Hutchison. Mr. Hutchison desired to enter his protest, and hoped it would be recorded. It was decided to take no action in expressing an opinion as to whether the Board approved of the amount of punishment. _ Mr. Toomath was very glad of that decision. Do not let them express approval of the most degrading of all punishments—-the lash -don t let them discuss it.

inspector’s salary. The proposal to increase the Inspector's salary to £4OO a year, with £1 per day travelling allowances, was taken into consideration. Telegrams were read, showing that in the Otago province the Chief Inspector of Schools received £6OO a year with travelling expenses; and the Sub-Inspector, £350 with travelling expenses. In Canterbury province, the_ Inspector,£4so with travelling expenses; Sub-In-spector, £4OO with travelling expenses. Mr. Lowes expressed himself in favor of the advance, , , , ~ ~ , Mr. Hutchison had no doubt it would be carried, so would not take up the time of the Board any further than saying he disapproved of it, believing the offices—lnspector and Secretary—could be performed by one person, with very little extra expense. Mr. Brandon said two or three of themasters were getting nearly as large a salary as that proposed to be given to Mr. Lee, and it did seem absurd for any person to offer an objection. Mr. Hutchison here left the room rather abruptly. . After some further discussion, the motion was carried.

MADHICE7IIXE. It was resolved that no further steps be taken with regard to this school at present; but that Mr. Peterson be employed as assistant to the Maaterton school until further notice. TAKATAHI. An exchange of an acre for the half-acre previously held as a site was agreed to, and payment of £5, the difference in value, was ordered to be paid to Mr. Corpe. WOODSIDE. As there is -a disagreement among the inhabitants of the district respecting the site for a school, it was resolved to let the question of the erection of a school stand over for the present. CARTERTON RESERVES. It was decided that the rental offered by Mr. llughan for three reserves being considered too low, was not accepted.

LEAVE OF ABSENCE TO SECRETARY. ; Mr. Graham (the secretary) was granted a week’s leave of absence, commencing from the 28th instant. The Board then rose, a quantity of routine business being relegated. to a committee consisting of Messrs. Bunny, Pharazyn, and Lowes.