A TEACHER’S CASE.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 December 1921, Page 2

A TEACHER’S CASE.

BOARD'S ACTION RESENTED. MINISTER’S CRITICISMS. By Telegraph. Pres* Association Wellington, Dec. 22. The Carterton School Committee ara dissatisfied with the Education Board’s inquiry into’ Miss Park’s case and sent a deputation to the Minister of Education to protest. They objected to the inquiry being held in secret, and claimed that the Board’s finding was dead against the evidence. They took strong exception to a letter published by Miss Park, and said their views were supported by*the inspectors and headmaster of the school. This and other evidence was suppressed, and they asked the Minister to insist on its being published. Mr. Parr said the department had asked for the notes of evidence and the board had refused to give them. The deputation went on to say that members of the committee and the .Director of Education were rudely treated at the inquiry. Although the board had exculpated Miss Park it had taken a private undertaking from her that she would not repeat her conduct. Why did the board suppress this fact? The Minister said that, while loth to overrule an Education Board, he considered the shutting out of the Press and public from the inquiry was a grave mistake. The refusal of the Board to let its own members see the evidence was also a blunder. These facts and the refusal to let the department see the evidence must cause'grave suspicion. The Director of Education, who was present, had supplied him with notes which showed that the most extraordinary methods had prevailed, indicating gross bias and unfairness and predetermination of the issue. Moreover, the evidence given by two headmasters who recently had Miss Park under their charge and by the Senior Inspector of Schools showed that these impartial and expert witnesses were exceedingly dissatisfied with her and her attitude and considered that her utterances were calculated to exert a baneful influence upon her classes. In the classroom she had referred to the death of Nurse Cavell and to the part played by the British navy in the war in a manner which drew a strong protest and condemnation from her headmasters. He would confer with the department as to whether further action wafe not necessary in the interests of ordinary justice.