THE PELORUS GUARDIAN TUESDAY, MAY 6, 1890. Education System.

Pelorus Guardian and Miners' Advocate., Volume 1, Issue 29, 6 May 1890, Page 2

THE PELORUS GUARDIAN TUESDAY, MAY 6, 1890. Education System.

Education is daily becoming such a great factor in the ruling power of this world that it behoves our greatest statesman to watch its progress carefully, and to do their best to guide its influence for good amongst the masses, and more especially with the rising generation, to whom the future destiny of this young nation will be intrusted. The present system of teaching in our public schools has many great advantages, but the day is not far distant when it will not be deemed high treason to the State if we point out some of the evils and suggest common sense remedies. For some years past our legislature have been, in plain terms, afraid to touch the Statute of 1887 for fear if amendments were introduced they could only see the beginning of the end, but in 1885 a few short unimportant clauses were added, and before long those in authority must grapple with questions of much greater importance and absolutely settle which authority has the power to appoint or dismiss teachers. The law, as it stands at present, is most unsatisfactory, and in many provincial districts has caused a deal of friction between the School Committees and Education Board. Clause 35, “Education Act 1887, says, under “Powers and duties of the Board,” they shall appoint and remove officers and teachers in the manner provided by the Act; and clause 45, under “ Appointment of Teachers,” reads, “ The Board of each district shall be entitled to appoint teachers for every school under their control, or to remove such teachers from one school to any other school within the district,” but “committees may recommend teachers to the Board for appointment, and may also recommend, the suspension or dismissal of any such teacher, but no appointment, suspension, or dismissal, shall take place until the Committee have been first consulted .” Now, in a case of dismissal tried before Judge Williams; he ruled that, to consult, means to ask advice with a view of obtaining it, and this would no doubt apply equally the same to a case of appointment, but some committees have actually gone so far as to maintain they are the body who should appoint the teachers, which is simply usurping the function of the Board, while, at the same time, as it is their children who have to be taught they should be most interested; hust unpleasantness arises, and the sooner this matter is definitely settled on a proper basis, the better it will be for all parties interested.”