TROUBLE AT TATARAIMAKA.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 81852, 27 September 1906, Page 2

TROUBLE AT TATARAIMAKA.

TEACHER AND PARENT. A Tataramaka parent wrote to the Education Board icccntly that she had complained to the School Committco of punishment meted out to the children by the teacher at the local school, i, u t the committee had taken no notice. The teacher had given the complaintant's daughter eight strokes on the arm, the stripes being visible for weeks, merely for smiling in school. Another grievance was that the children were not getting sufficient mid-day recess, which was sometimes of only ten minutes' duration, and the children had to go into school with only half their dinner eaten. It was also stated in the letter that the children were kept in till four o'clock. The letter was referred to the teacher, Miss F. Allmer, who replied that the complaints were not in accordance with facts. The child did not receive eight stripes on the arm, and tho punishment was not inflicted lor smiling, but for disobedience and untruthfulness. In regard to the din-ner-hour, the teacher mentioned that it lujd apparently been the custom to allow one hnifrhouf only throughout the who'e year. Now., considering tho unpunetuality of the children and the objection that parents had to the children being detained after school hours, it was evident that the nlv chance a teacher had of helping backward children was to get as much as possible corroded during the dinner hour. Even then it was impossible to overtake the work lost through irregular attendance. Regarding the statement that children had been detained to four p.m., it was "most decidedly untrue." '('lie teacher considered the lnilf hour for lunch was [otally inadequate and unfair both to scholars and teacher. It meant such a rush that frequently she could ivH find time to eat her own lunch or make herself a cup of tea, "and when I point out that I have to travel all the way to and from Okato each day (there is no suitable board and lodging to be had at Tatarairuak.i), yoii can readily understand the necessity tor an hour's jecuss at mid-day."

The chairman of the committee wrote that the committee had heard the complainant and the teacher, and come to the conclusion that the punishment might nave ] )C en ratiicr severe for a child so young Hm this appeared to be a c;we of local spite, and he had thought it better loftalone. hoping it would fizzle out. Tiio Hoard decided on Wednesday that (lie portion of Miss Allmer's letter dealing- with the mid-dav recess be referred to the committee.