COUNTRY SCHOOL TEACHER

Otago Witness, Issue 4029, 2 June 1931, Page 24

COUNTRY SCHOOL TEACHER

APPEAL AGAINST DISMISSAL. WANGANUI, May 27. An appeal against her dismissal bythe Wanganui Education Board was. made by Miss C. R. Phillips to-day. Miss. Phillips was a teacher in the Rangiwahia School. The committee complained, alleging that the children were kept in for an unreasonable time, that excessive corporal punishment was inflicted and that there was general trouble with the parents. The Education Board contended that Miss Phillips was temperamentally unsuited for teaching. Mr T. B. Strong, Director of Education, said he did not know of any teacher who had given the department so much concern. They did all they could for her, but Miss Phillips was not temperamentally suited for teaching. Mr Walter Boshier, chairman of the Rangiwaliia School Committee, said that Miss Phillips did not seem to take much interest in the children’s games, and she encouraged the children to “tell tales.” The majority of the children respected their teacher. m, . May 29. The hearing was continued to-day. Appellant contended that no school could have been happier for the two years and a-half she was in charge of it, and the children made good progress. She inferred that there was petty jealousy among three people who had no children at school. She contended that the inquiry leading to her dismissal was out of all proportion to the little trouble that arises at any country school through the children carrying tales. She contended also that the appeal was not one against her dismissal from the Rangiwahia School but her dismissals for the last 10 years. Mr W. H Swanger, secretary of the Wanganui Education Board, was crossexamined at length by the appellant. William Adams, a member of the Edu. cation Board, said that as an old and superannuated school teacher, as a member of other educational bodies in New Zealand, and haying a total of 57 years’ service in the qause of education he could not remember a dirtier educational wash, than the present case. May 30. The teacher’s appeal case was concluded this morning when Miss Phillips gave evidence. She contended that none of her pupils had been turned out with warped characters, and referred the Bench to reports of her success. She had been compelled to walk the streets for the last four months vainly seeking employment. The savings of a lifetime had been nearly all spent in legal proceedings and for medical attention as the aftermath of an assault at Masterton some years ago. She alleged persecution at various places, including Rangiwahia, from which place she had vainly tried to get a transfer. Decision was reserved.