APPOINTMENT OF TEACHERS.

Patea Mail, Volume VIII, Issue 1032, 9 May 1883, Page 3

APPOINTMENT OF TEACHERS.

TO THE EDITOR. . r Sir, —The remarks of “A. B. 0.” as to the past appointment of teachers and the present offer to Patea School are so misleading, as to need correction. In the past there has been no attempt to unduly interfere with the functions of the Committee in this matter. There has therefore Been, 'no occasion for the committee to do a war dance before the Board for; the; casting of slights or the infringement of rights. The usual plan has been to advertise, and the committee has exercised its privilege of selection.; Patea has been looked upon as among the important schools within the Board district, and ready and valuable assistance has been given by the Board’s officers to help the committee to secure efficient teachers, and also to get rid of unwise selections made by the committee. The Board has advertised for teachers in Canterbury, Auckland, Wellington, Nelson, and Taranaki, with , very little.result, and is again advertising in the hope of attracting teachers. Good teachers are, however, not so readily fixed «p ns fancied grievances. There has been no real or “ apparent” determination of the Board to appoint Mr Coventry, nor any attempt to force the committee, by saying “yon.must take this one which we have chosen.” 4

The Board has more vacancies than suitable teachers, and extensive advertising has proved to be money thrown away. Mr Coventry is the most likely among present candidates for appoint ment to suit the requirements of Patea. It is optional. with the committee to accept or reject the offer of Mr Coventry’s services, anil the committee is also at liberty to advertise. There has.certainly been no attempt to dogmatise on the part of the Board or its officers. Looking again over A. B.C.’s letter, nothing so far within my knowledge has occurred to warrant such a “ tread on the tail of my coat ” for almost every statement therein conld safely be answered with a point blank “ incorrect.” As a member of the Committee, I shall always .be ready to take up the. cudgels against the Board’whenever occasion requires, but there is no" case as yet regarding appointments of teachers.—l am, &c., J. K. Hon. Sec. School Committee.