The Telephone. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. GISBORNE, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 1884. A MODEL EDUCATION BOARD.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 57, 4 February 1884, Page 2

The Telephone. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. GISBORNE, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 1884. A MODEL EDUCATION BOARD.

Colonials— or, at least, the majority of the New Zealand ones —pride themselves on their education scheme, and boast of the liberality of its pro* visions ; yet it does not exactly follow that the carrying out of the details of the measure is worthy of much commendation. We feel convinced that, on the whole, the system of education in this Colony has effected a vast amount of good — particularly in country districts; nevertheless, there have, no doubt, been serious drawbacks to the successful working of the movement. The main aim of the Government has been—or should have been—to secure tbe services of the most competent staff of teachers procurable, and in many instances that desirable object—notably in Gia borne—has been attained; but the principal evil in connection with this national system of education is the great power given to School Committees and Education Boards. Unfortunately, sufficient discrimination has not been used in the selection of School Committees, and we will cite a case in point, in which a man of inferior education—a storekeeper in a good position in a country town in Canterbury—and his partner, who was so ignorant as to read out in a resolution the abbreviation “ viz."’as “ visibly,” had great influence—so much so, indeed, that the liberalminded pair managed to get a young girl — a relation of the said storekeeper — who held the position of Chairman of the Committee—appointed a teacher to the school they operated for, in preference to a lady of far greater qualifications than those of their protege. Of course, the little business was trausacted “on the quiet,” and the friend became a full-blown schoolteacher; while a properly-qualified lady had to suffer the indignity of being superseded by an applicant far inferior to her in mental and scholastic qualifications. No doubt, similar instances have been noted in other parts of the Colony, and we now find that in Auckland a most disgraceful action has been brought to light. Our respected contemporary the N. Z. Herald states the case thus:—“A head-master was wanted for Newton East School, and in course a number of applications were sent in to the Board, and remitted to the Committee. The usual course is for the Committee to recommend one of the candidates, and

it will bo remembered that while Mr. Laishley was Chairman, the Board bound itself by a resolution to accept the nominations of the Committees. That resolution still stands, but tbe Board appear to be desirous to grasp tbe power back again. 3ho Newton East Committee met, and, from the large number of candidates they selected Mr. P. O’Donoguue, and his name was forwarded to the Board of Education

Why this question of the appointment of a head-teacher to Newton East School was taken in Committee we do not know, but may safely assume that the Board were ashamed of what they were about to do. The previous proceedings had been quite public, and the fact had been printed in the newspapers that the Committee had recommended Mr. o‘Donogiiue ; yet the members of tbe Board, for reasons best known to themselves, took the matter in Committee. There was no question of teacher's character to come up There was no reason for the Board deliberating on the subject in secret, except the desire to shroua their own proceedings. They had no need to conceal their doings,unless they were ashamed of them. Obviously, some intriguing had been going on. The officers of the Board had made inquiry, and found that an informality had been committed by the Seeivlary to the Committee. The law says tiiat when a teacher has to be appointed this business must be specified in the notices calling the meeting. This the Secretary to the Board discovered had not been done. The officials of the Board have no right to inquire iuto whether the Secretary of the Committee fulfils his duty ; but, in this case, such inquiry for an ulterior purpose had been made. Two of the members of the Board were very strongly opposed to Mr. O'Donoghue, These objections cannot lie to his qualifications, for he has attained a high scholastic qualification, and he is at present teaching one of the largest and best schools in the province. If he is unfit for City East he is unfit for Waio-Karaka. .Indeed, wo know that their objections did not lie to his qualification or character. The Board thought fit to conceal their motives, and to decline to confirm the committee’s recommendation, on the ground that the business had not been specifically mentioned in the notices calling the Committee meeting. Of course this was a mere pretext. There was no reason to think that any of the Committee had been taken by surprise, because the candidates had been before them for some time, and they all knew what the meeting was for. But the slip made by the Secretary served the purpose of the Board, The Commit, tee, we are sorry to say, behaved in a most pusillanimous manner. That is the word used by one of themselves, and it is exceedingly suitable. Men of spirit would have re-affirmed their former decision, and dared the Board to refuse to confirm it. The Committee hesitate between Mr. O’Donoghue and another, and finally agree upon a third man, whom none of them seem to care much for, but who probably is the desire of the Board. From what took place at the Committee meeting, we obtain some light on the point of why it is that certain members of the Board took objection to Mr. O’Donoghue. Mr. Bell pointed out that since their last decision nothing had come to their knowledge detrimental to Mr. O'Dosoohue. He further said that it would be childish for them to go back from their first choice. He, however, was childish and foolish enough to propose another man, and mark his reason. He said, ' He found that there was a feeling worked up outside against tbe appointment of Mr O'DoNoyitci-:, a religious feeling, which he was very sorry to see imported into their secular system of education. But it did prevail, and in the interests of the school he thereforefore proposed Mr. Coates.’” In this case, it appears, the Board meanly raised an objection to Mr O’Donoguue. and the Committee were chickenhearted and cowardly enough to stultify their previous action by submitting totheunjustdeeisionoftheßoard. Our contemporary further says : —“ 1 Outside,' in this case means in the Board of Education, for till they took action, and made inquiries to see where a flaw could be found in the Committee’s action, there had been no feeling. However, wo suppose that is the reason, and that Mr. O’Donoghue has been jockeyed out of Newton East by the action of the Board, simply because he is a Roman Catholic. The charge macle is that members of the Board have ‘ worked up the religious feeling against Mr. O’Donoghue.’ The Chairman of the Committee also deplores that religious feeling lias been imported iuto the matter, ‘ for by it they were giving a handle to Bishop Redwood and others opposed to the system.’ Just so. That will certainly be done Obviously the members of Committee know more than we do, and they seetn to have no doubt of what are the reasons of the Board for objecting to Mr. O’Donoghue. He is a Roman Catholic, and on that account Mr. Mell proposes Mr. Coati'S, and adds, ‘ not that he considered him so well-fitted for the position as Mr. O’Donoghue.’ It is a very sorry spectacle altogether, and we really do not know whether the Board or the

Committee occupy the most contemptible position." Now, wa ask, will such conduct as is described above add a lustre to the much-vaunted education system of the Colony ? Are such liberal-minded men as those comprising the Auckland Board, together with the creatures of circumstances who figure as a School Committee in the northern city, capable of assisting to thoroughly test the measure which has created more discussion in this Colony than tiny other subject ? We should say, decidedly not 1 And yet, iu many other parts of this Colony are public men to be found of equal mental calibre to those soft-minded individuals who pride themselves, no doubt, on being members of the Newton School Committee. The real source of this grievance rests with the ratepayers themselves; for they are not particular enough as to whom they elect on a School Committee, and it does not appear to be a generallyunderstood fact that the more ignorant a man of “influence" is, the more consequence he assumes- —that the old saw, “ Put a beggar on horseback,” Ac. —is worthy of consideration. It is a deplorable fact that unlettered, uncultivated, egolistical men manage to get, through their good pecuniary position, elected on School Committees—much to the mortification of competent teachers, who have either to submit to the interference of shallow-pated Committeemen of ruri the risk of losing their situations. What can be more disgusting and aggravating to a sensitive man who knows his business than to have to submit to the dictation of au ignorant “cad,” whom Dame Nature has complaccutly slimed on ? What greater farce can be enacted than that of a member of a Visiting Committee who does not know one part of speech from another, and cannot spell the most ordinary word in the English language, presuming to express an opinion on the merits or demerits of a duly-qualified school-teacher ? Yet many a moneyed dunder-head has had the temerity to question the capabilities of ane’ucated man I Therefore it is that the present system of electing School Committees is a great evil, and Education Boards are expensive luxuries that could well be dispensed with, If the present system of education is to become a success there must bo far more liberality in its management than we find indulged in by that effeminate body the Education Board of Auckland.