THE OKATO SCHOOL INQUIRY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXIII, Issue 251, 24 October 1901, Page 2

THE OKATO SCHOOL INQUIRY.

RBPORT OF COMMITTEE.

EDUCATION BOARD'S DECISION.

At the Education Board ou Wednesday, the committee appointed to inquire into the following charges made hy the Okato School Committee against the Inspector(l) Maki g use of the expression " Good God Almighty " when examining a c!sss ; (2) Calling Miss Shaw "a lazy lubb»r" iu the presence of the children; (3i Not having the common decency to uso common courtesy to either teachers or scholars; (4) Giving Standard IV; questions belonging to Standard VI., reported that with respect to charge No. 1, they were of opinion, after careful consideration of the evidence t.h <t the words were used by the Inspector, although not intandc 1 to be heard. Charge No 2 was withdrawn by the chairman of the school committee after hearing the evidence of Mr. Mcintosh and Mrs Penwarden (nee Miss Shaw), both of whom denied having heard the expression. With regard to ISo. 3, the committee were of opinion that the charge broke down, and as to No. 4 there was no evidence to sustain the charge. The committee could not too strongly condemn the ebullition of the temper displayed by the Inspector in the exclamation referred to above, and they considered he should be cautioned not to repeat such conduct. They recognised the fact that for a considerable time past great friction had existed between the teacher (Mr Mcintosh) and the Inspector, the former having, since bis appointment in 1898, had reports which were generally of an unsatisfactory character, the Inspector's repeated suggestions having been not only ignored but wilfully neglected, while the teacher's conduct and bearing towards the Inspector have, m the committee's opinion, been. most offensive. By way of furthr evidence of the unsatisfactory state of school affairs at Okato, the committee submitted a copy of a circular issued by the chairman of the Okato Committee and sent to all school committees in the Board's district, wherein it was stated that the Okato Committee had no confidence in the Inspector's method of examination, and that the Board should be asked to request Mr Spencer to resign. With reference to the teacher's unsatisfactory conduct, the committee reported they had no alternative but to recommend that he be be called upon to resign. Attached, was a copy of the evidence taken, and the report was signed by all the committee - Messrs McAlium, Adlam, Allsworth and Hignett.

THE EVIDENCE. The following is a copy of the evidence given at the inquiry, and signed by the witnesses: Mr Mcintosh : I was present at the Okato school outhe day of examination, I did not hear the words used wliich are complained of. I was in the room at the time, at the back of the classroom.

To Mr Hignott: Is was not possible for him nor, to hear the eja.ulatijn "Good God Almighty," if it had been uttered loudly, or even fairly loudly.

To Mr Allsworth: I did not lieir the Inspector use any words which might be construed into the expressions quoted in the letter.

To Mr. Adlam: I have not intimated anything to the committee with reference to the Inspector's c induct in the school on that day. I was dissatisfied with the Inspector's manner that day. I told him so. I was dissatisfied with a good many thiogs. I gave a lesson that morning to Standard V on simple interest, taking the methods and principles S't out in bis own little work for scoool use, usio,J the blackboard freely. In recapitulating the lesson I examined the class upon the work to see if they understood it. After that the Inspector jumped up in front of the clas3 and in a very demonstrative wiy declared that I had giv n the lesson badly, speaking excitoily, [and waving his arms. That I consider ,a grave breach of conduct and liksly to destroy discipline. I mentioned t.lso to the committee that the particul-r lesson during which Mr Spencer is supposed to have used these words was a long and trying one. It lasted an hour and the pupils were tired and weary, and the lesson was entirely beyond their comprehension.

To the Chairman: I am referring more particularly to Standards IV and V. The fourth was only really a third standard. The examination had hem five months before. That was practically giving Ro k to Standard 111 which belonged to Standard VI. Mr. Spencer here admitted that he was in the habit of teichiug tha* lesson to Standards IV., V., ani VI. io such a school as this.

Mr. Mcintosh: The lesson started with a lesson ou the placing of the time clause, but it ended in the rhetorical sentence and tbe periodic c'ause and tbe suspension of interest in the sentence. These were in my opinion boyond the comprehension of i v c 4th. In fairness to Mr. Spenc r I must my the greater number of his qsestloris were to the h'gher standards. The hsson was rendered more difficult by the Inspector educing everything from the children.

To Mr. Adlam: The Insppc'or's manner knot what it ought 10 b> to the teacher. His manner <o the chili - ren was often obj-ctiorable and tljos coS tend to bring out the tiaching which they have receive J. To Mr, Hignott: I did not hear Mr. Spencer call Miss Shaw a '■ lnz>' lubber." I would have hi ard the run irk if it had been made in a fairly loud tone of voice.

To Mr. MeUullum : Tho Inspector arrived on the day in ques'>.i"i) v -rv shortly after ths school wns open.* d. It was not unusual for h'ru to come at that time. I had an altercation with the Inspector that day. After the children had. gone at dinuer tim'i I complained to Mr. Spencer of hi« m inner and g.iva it as my opinion that ite had come there to break up tho srluxii. I also pointed out to him the diHV.uur c in his manner from that of other Inspectors under whom I had seived. I referred aUo to his last examination of the school, expressing myself very disappointed wit.ii his remarks thereon, giving my reasons for considering them unjust and unfair. Towards the afternoon after the lesson on rhetoric Mr. Spencer and I had a conversation outside the school. Mr. Spencer spoke on the torching and Agreed to come again. I gave it eg my reason for saying he [had come to bwak up the school that |I w;-s acting in co»juooiaon with the (committee in ihe circular they sent round to til the school committees. I to!d him I had nothing to do with it, and he acquitted me of having aaythiag to do with it. I mentioned it [first. He (the Inspector) said ha knew [all about the resolution before it was in print. I think he referred to the cir-j

eular. I was just looking on while the Inspector examined the classes, I should judge he was not in good I temper from the timo he entered the ischoyl. He was excited.

To Mr Hignett: Mr Spencer's manner during the < inversation which was held outside was quite courteous and different to his manner in school. ; To Mr Allsworth : The conversation outside was more or less a private one. I When he said he would come again I .mderst'iod hitn 'o mean that he would I brodt what iud occurred as if it had noi> tr ken place. j To Mr Hughson: I and the tu-j spsi:tor had always bad a contention] about methods of teaching. I told you that I would stop the examination if the same thing occurred again. To Mr Eustace : It was a part of my duty to listen to the Inspector when he was teaching. I was not engaged on other duties while the lesson in question was going on. The Insp' ctor might have s tid the woids complained of and I not heaid them.

■To Mr Spaucer: Miss Shaw did not at first complain of the words alleged to be used, but she did afterwards. She mentioned that she bad heard it. She mentioned the matter the day following tha visit. The visit wa3 on the 10th May, I took the lesson referred to some time between 10 and 11. It was on simple interest. You pointed out to me that I had not asked any questions, and you were wrong in spying so. You might have pointed out to me that the first question I asked involved tbe answer "Yrs" or "No." You huve pointed out all along that children' should be taught by m fans of skilful questioning. I agree that that is the pi opnr method, but I da not think te 'chni« can bs carried out entirely on these' lines. There is not time fo- i 1". Questioning is the method advisad by all textbooks. In a large school a master must instruct, he can't stop to educe. Re the lesson on the period, I slid you rendered the lesson more difficult by not giving them enough information to go on. I think that synonimous with your educing everything. Whsn you gave the lesson, you started with a time clause, and ended with a place clause. You wrote it on the board you called tho children's attention to. The lesson was beyond Standard IV. lam aware that you taught the lesson at a smaller school. At the conversation which took place [ at the midday recess, I spoke excitedly. I asked you what the nature of my report would be. You said you would not take any extreme steps.

Mrs. D'Arcy Penwarden (nee Mattie Shaw) late assistant teacher at Okato school), To the Chairman: I was present in the school when the school was ex-, amined. I heard the Inspector use the expression " Good God Almighty " while giving a lesson to some of the higher divisions. I was about 10 feet away from him at the time. The curtain was up. It was hanging so that I could see Mr. Spencer. I was hearing a standard reading. I did not hear Mr. Spencer call me "A lazy lubber." If he had said so I would have heard it.

Mr McOullum here withdrew the charge. To Mr. Hignett : I knew Mr. Spencer made the ejaculation because I know his voice.

To Mr. Allsworth: Mr. Spencer was giving a lesson, and I think he could not get the answers he wanted and I heard him say " Good God Almighty! What a class."

To Mr. Spencer: It was not said in a loud tone. Ido not think you meant it to be heard. It was said as' if you had lost patience with the children. It was in the afternoon, between 1.30 and 2.30. I first mentioned the matter to Mr. Mcintosh on the Monday following | the Friday, which was the day of the I visit. On Friday night my brother mentioned it, but I did not tell him I had heard it. Mr. McOullum asked me if I had heard you use any words which I thought objectionable, and I said "yes." I don't remember when he first mentioned it. It was some time during the week following the visit. I think the lesson was a grammar lesson. I did not hear the question put or the answer, as I was payiug no particular j attention to the lesson. You werei standing facing the class, near the black-board, on the chimney side. I have never heard you on. any other occasion use such an expression. I have never heard you use any. expression to which I might have objected. To Mr. Adlam: The Inspector's manner was at no time disagreeable in the school as far as I know.

Reginald Shaw, in Standard VI.,

To the Chairman: I was in the school on the 10; h May. I remember the day. I remember tlw day because Mr Sptmci r wiis accused of swearing on that day in the school, I beard jthe words. They were "Goad God [ Almighty." That is all I heard. Mr j Spencer was standing by the blackboard. He asked the question, and the child being unable to answai, Mr Spencer made use of the woids complained of. It was a Standard IV. child he was questioning. The Inspectoi' seemed to b : ; somewhat excited. Hn muttered the words complained of. I was two or three yards away, I could not have mistaken the words. !

To Mr Higoetfc: I don't know who accused Mr Spencer of swea'ing.

To Mr Allsworth : Several of the boys ppoke about the matfeor, and afterwards Mrs Pen warden, my sister, SDoke to ma about it. It was about a fortnight after occurrence that my ais'er spokn t> me ab®ut if. That was the first occasion I can remember.

To Mr Adlara : I cannot say who accused the Inspector of swbaring. Louis Gr;iy, a pupil, first, mentioned it to me.

To Mr Eustace: About half a dczan children spoke about the matter.

To Mr Spencer : The words were not spoken loudly. Ido not remember the question, nor who the child was who was questioned. It was a composition lo.«son. It was in the afternoon. It was about thy middle of the lesson that you used tho words. Ido not think you used the words to anyone, you said them to yourself. Next day in the playground the children discussed the matter. lam quite certain they spoke about it next day about the road or in the play-ground. It was mentioned the same night by Louis Grey, John Sullivan and self, and by no other. I don't; remember who mentioned it first. I mentioned it in the play-ground next day to Hughson, Mr MeCulium spoke to me about it before tho first inquiry. He asked if I bad heard you, and I |said "Yes." Mr Mcintosh was present At the conversation, but no oilier member of the committee. lam suie no other member of the committee has spoken to me of the matter or questioned me. It was about a week afterwards that he spoke to me about it. It was after my sister mentioned it to me.

John Sullivan, Standard VI.,

To the Chairman : I remember the 10th May. I heard the Inspector swear that day in school. He said "Good God Almighty." That was all I heard. He was apparently not excited, and the words were not loudly spoken. I was three or four yards from him. The words could not have been heard by the children furthest away. lam not sure if the curtain was up. I could see Miss Shaw.

To Mr Hignett: Ido not know who Fpoko of Mr Spencer having used the words. I do not remember the question or leply which caused the exclamation, I had no conversation with other boys about the matter. Shaw had no conversation with me about the matter. I did not have a conversation about it with a boy named Gray. Mr McOullum asked me if I i heard Mr Spencer swear, and I told j him I had heard Mr Spencer say " Good | God Almighty," To the Chairman: lam not sure that Shaw did not speak to me. To Mr, Allsworth: I did not hear Mr. Spencer say anything but the thiee words. He spoke in a tone a little lower than his usual voice, To Mr. Adlam: I cannot remember speaking to any of the boys about it. To Mr. McOullum: I went out through the school gates that afternoon. I have had time to forget part of what took place that day. To Mr. Spencer: I cannot say actually where Mies Shaw was when j you said the words in question. Mr, j McOullum spoke to me about the mat- j ter the day after the visit. He oiled me out of school to question me. I did not mention the matter to Hughs m. No one was with Mr. McOullum when he Bpoke to me of the matter. Louis Gray, Standard VI.: I remember the 10th of May. I heard Mr. Spencer uso tbe words " Good God Almighty" on that day in school, I heard nothing further. He did not seem excited. He said the words as if he did not want them to be heard. Do not know where Miss S'jaw was nor what the position of the curtain was. I asked Shaw the same day if he had heard the Inspector, and ho said "Yes."

To Mr. Hignett: I spoke to Shaw and Sullivan in the p'ay ground about the matter on the same day. I have not been before the committee on the matter, but Mr. McCullum told us to be sure and tell the truth at the inquiry. This was either the day of inquiry or day before. He Bsked me what I heard and then said I was to tell the truth. That was the only occasion on which Mr. McOullum spoke with me on the matter. To Mr Allsworth : Shaw was the first to whom I epoke about the matter after it occurred. Mr Mcintosh had asked me if I heard any peculiar words from Mr Spencer, and I said " Yes." Mr Spencer said nothing more than three words referred to, to my knowledge.

To Mr Spencer: The lesson was one on grammar. I do not know where Miss Shaw was standing when the words were used by you. Mr McOullum had not spoken to me about the matter between when ifc occurred and the day or day before the inquiry.

Mr McOullum said it was the desire of the committee that he should bring the discourtesy of the Inspector before the Beard. Tbey could bring any number of children to testify that the Inspector had used the words complained of. At Mr McCallum's request the following words made use of by Mr Spencer were taken down: "It is evident that Mr McOullum ran the whole show."

DISCUSSION BY THE BOABD. Mr Mackay said he had some doubt; as to the value of the evidence of children in cws of this kind. No ( doubt the Itwpictor was labouring under considerable provocatioa when the expressions complained of wore used by him. Mr Kennedy moved the adoption of the report.—Seconded by Mr Wade. Mr Mackay wished to know if the committee of inquiry had asked the Inspector straight out if ha used tbe expressions complained of. Tke Chairman said they had not. Mr Allsworth pointed out that by that by the rules of evidence the Inspector could not be asked to make any statement, though he might do so voluntarily. The Chairman said the Inspector had bad an opportunity of denying the cbargp, though be had not taken advantage of it. Mr Mackay 6aid if tbe Inspector had flatly denied the charge he would have been disposed to believe him.

Mr Fa ull objected to Mr Mackay suggesting that the Inspector's word was more to be believed than any of the other witnesses. The mo 1 ion was then carried. A copy of the report will be forwarded to tbe Okato committee.