APPOINTMENT OP TEACHERS AT PATEA.

Patea Mail, Volume VIII, Issue 1031, 7 May 1883, Page 2

APPOINTMENT OP TEACHERS AT PATEA.

■ ___* * TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —From time to time during the past few years, I have had occasion to draw attention to the peculiar manner in which the Education Board have filled up vacancies throughout the district. In regard to the present appointment, rendered vacant by the resignation of Mr Flood, it is to be hoped that the Patea School Committee will treat the slight, attempted to be cast upon them in a manner which will show clearly to the Board that it is composed of men who know their duties, and how to perform them—a committee who will not allow their functions to be curtailed, their rights infringed bn, and the district ignored. The Board’s apparent determination to appoint a Mr Coventry without; adopting the usual course of calling for applications,_by advertisement or otherwise, ami submitting them to the school committee to select from is as unjust to the teachers in the Board's service as it is to this important district. The Board has no right to curtail the Committee’s

power of selection by forwarding one application, and saying “ you must take this one which we have chosen.” If a certificated or experienced teacher, very possibly the Committee might select Mr Coventry for the post, but they have a right to claim the exerci-e of those privileges, which the Education Act bestows upon them, previous to an appointment being made. It is the principle sought to be established, not the man that the Committee are called upon to oppose. There is a feeling I understand, among the Committee, that this action .has not been taken by the Board as a whole, but as an arrangement pleasantly come to by a sma 1 ! coterie, or perhaps by the Board’s very courteous Secretary. No matter, however, to whom the action may be attributed, there is no gainsaying the fact that a course not contemplated by the Act, has been taken, and the School Committee will only. be acting inf accordance with a proper application of their powers and functions, in declining to accept any master that may be informally appointed, without their full concurrence and approval.—l am, May 5. " '' " ' A. B. C.