EDUCATION BOARD.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2362, 12 October 1880, Page 2

EDUCATION BOARD.

An adjourned meeting of the above was held to-day. Present —Messrs H. Bclficld (Chairman), Barclay, Wakefield, Goldsmith and Howell. TKIIiUIi.VnOS'S OK A COMM ITT It K.

The Secretary read a communication from the Timaru School Committee stating 1 that a special meeting had been held in accordance with clause 72 of the Act rc dismissal of the head mistress, and enclosing a resolution passed on the same subject. A lengthy statement was read from Mr R. B. Walcot, Chairman of the School Committee, giving a history of the circumstances which had led to the extreme step taken by the Committee of recommending that the Board should take advantage of the power conferred by clause 45 of the Act, and give Miss Forbes notice of the termination of her engagement. He stated that in the beginning of August last, Miss Craigie, the fourth mistress, driven, as the committee wore led to believe, by the treatment of the head mistress, resigned her appointment. On the vacancy occurring Miss Forbes and the head master (Mr .Scott) recommended that instead of appointing another fourth mistress a pupil teacher should be appointed, and that the amount thus saved in salaries should be added to the salary of Miss Cramond, third mistress. The committee did not accept this advice, but appointed Miss Ball fourth mistress. At the next meeting of the committee a letter was received from Miss Ball, stating that in consequence of the representations made by the head mistress respecting the duties of fourth mistress, she desired to withdraw from the post assigned to her, but she was willing to accept the appointment of pupil teacher. Another special meeting of the committee was held on Sept. Id,and in the interval Mr Walcot (chairman) hail an interview with Miss Forbes and M iss Ball, and as (he result of this the Committee passed a resolution expressing regret that the duties of fourth mistress were overstated, and referring the question of duties to the inspector. Subsequently the Chairman saw Miss Ball and got her to act as substitute for Miss Hibbard, then on leave of absence, but on Miss Ball going to the school Miss Forbes ordered her to leave it,and she went home and wrote a letter of complaint to the Chairman of Committee. In this Miss Ball stated that Miss Forbes said she had misunderstood her re the duties of fourth mistress, ordered her to write to the Committee to this effect, and as she declined, maintaining that she hud not misunderstood Miss Forbes, the latter ordered her to leave the school. On Sept. 21, the Chairman visited the school, and,finding that Miss Forbes objected to Miss Bull teaching in the school, insisted upon the head mistress both allowing her to teach and treating her with respect. Thereupon Miss Forbes told Miss Ball to go to her class, and Mr Walcot left, believing (he difficulty was arranged, but no sooner was his back turned than Miss Ball was again ordered out. Mr Barclay—Does the chairman supply any evidence of that, or is it mere hearsay ?

The Chairman’s statement went on to sa}’ that despite what she had done Miss Forbes wrote to the committee, asking why Miss Fall was absenting’ herself from her duties, and he (the chairman) replied that Miss Forbes having ordered her to leave must be aware of the cause of her absence. A lengthy letter was received from Miss Forbes in which she gave her version of all that had transpired between herself, Miss Ball, and Mr Walcot. In this letter she pointed out that in the lirst place the head master and the inspector had agreed with her that Miss .Ball was ineligible for the post of fourth mistress because of her total inability to perform the the duties of such a position. She also stated that Miss Ball had promised to write to the Committee correcting the wrong impression which she had caused and that on being asked why she had not done so, she made three different statements—first, that she was too tired ; second, that she had not seen Mr Wal cot; and lastly, that she had been advised not to do so. The statement concluded by charging Miss Forbes with treating the Committtee in a contemptuous and disrespectful manner, and urged that although she was a superior teacher, her “ ungovernable temper, intense obstinacy and violent prejudices ” (laughter) ren ■ dered a change highly desirable. In this opinion they were supported by the Inspector, head master, and he (the Chairman) believed by a large majority of the parents. The Board at the conclusion of the statement went into committee, and after some discussion resolved to adjourn till two o’clock in order that the head master, Miss Forbes, and Miss Ball might be present|and give evidence. TIMARU SIDE SCHOOL. On the motion of Mr "Wakefield, seconded by Mr Coldsmith, it was resolved—“ That the new school at South Timaru be a side school under the Timaru School Committee, and that children be admitted to it up to the third standard as a provisional arrangement ; that the staff consist of a mistress with a salary of £IOO a year, and £2O lodging money with such assistance as may appear necessary.” It was further resolved-- u That with regard to incidentals the Timaru Side School be treated as a separate school.