The Temuka Leader. SATURDAY, MAY 6, 1882.

Temuka Leader, Issue 947, 6 May 1882, Page 2

The Temuka Leader. SATURDAY, MAY 6, 1882.

The following cleverly written letter was read at the meeting of the Education Board last Wednesday, but no notice was taken of it : “ The Chairman Board of Education.

"Sir,— l have to acknowledge the receipt of letter dated April 6th, in which the Board intimate their decision to ter. minate my engagement in three months. May I respectfully ask the Board to reconsider the action it has taken towards me in this matter 1 The proceedings of the Board in thus closing my services convey the greatest possible injury to me professionally, and as I feel most keenly that my work in South Canterbury should be closed in.this manner, I earnestly desire to lay before the Board those circumstances which I deem, had I been allowed air opportunity of defence, would have tended to modify the seventy of their' decision. In the first place I wish to direct the attention of the Board to the fact that during the last twelve years I have been teaching in the district I I have received almost uniformly good reports upon my work, and however regretfully I look upon its close, it is with a feeling of pleasure that I view its results in many of my pupils, who worthily occupy responsible positions in leading mercantile houses, and. in the service of the Board. I mention this as I am anxious to induce the Board when reviewing their decision to look over and judge of my services as a whole. It is nearly impossible for a teacher to produce the same results throughout a long series of years, sickness on the part of his pupils, difference in their ability, and many other qualifying circumstances rendering any single estimate of his work unreliable. The failing of my school, how-

ever, at tlie last examination, even when judged by itself, was surely not so great as to obliterate all previous results, and bring upon me such extreme censure on the part of the Board, more especially if the fact that ten per cent of the children who failed to pass the examination, either from irregular attendance or recent admission, is admitted as a factor in the consideration of the report. These children were entirely without my control. The course of the year’s work was great'y interrupted by sickness on the part of the children, the school having been closed during the early part of the year on account of the existence of typhoid fever in the district, while during the later months measles emptied the benches. The effect of these circumstances (which were to a great extent common to nearly all the schools in the district) was, I regret to say, in my case intensified by an accident I met with a few weeks before the examination. I sincerely trust the Board will see the justice of ascribing to these causes, rather than to those orally specified by the Inspector at the last meeting, any diminution in value of the year’s work. The unsupported assertion that I had given more attention to farming than was compatible with my duties as a teacher is ungenerous. The change of residence was rendered necessary (upon the recommendation of the late Dr ; : Gumming) by the state of my health ; but I dis.. tioctly assure the Board that it has never led to any negligence in my service. Had such been the case it would undoubtedly have been officially brought under your notice. The second assertion, ‘ that the Committee intended to recommend : my dismissal,’ is, lam fortunately enabled by the direct evidence of the Committee to prove, simply untrue, the Secretary having been grently misled when he conveyed this information to the Board. The injury that I have suffered from this circumstance will perhaps excuse the liberty 1 take in pointing out to the Board the injustice of allowing the Inspector to be present as Secretary while his accusations against teachers are considered. Had the inspector confined his criticism to the limits of his report, I should not now have to reply to a charge and assertion which, from the irregular manner they were made, are as undignified for the Board to entertain as they are for me to answer.—l am, &c.

•‘A. Mclntosh. “ Temuka, April 28th, 1882 ” We think such a letter as this ought to have received greater attention. However, he may have conducted the Temuka School, no one can gainsay that he has done excellent work, and a good deal of it in this district, and that ought to entitlehim to some consideration at the hands of the Board. He is evidently suffering under the impression that he has been unjustly dealt with—that his removal has been recommended through a personal dislike. Under such circumstances the Board ought to have given him the trial which he demands and remove that impression, if possible. We notice also that the Board resolved to give Mr Smith, second master of the school, one month's notice, because he neglected to present himself at the last examination of teachers. Probably the Board had good reason for taking the steps they have taken, but as matters appear on the surface their conduct seems very arbitrary. The least they might have done was to call on Mr Smith for an explanation, and if he failed in giving a satisfactory one, no one could then blame them for doing what they considered best in the interest of Education. Then* action in dismissing him summarily without trial seems to partake too much of absolutism, and it is with that we find fault. Public bodies generally give their servants a fair hearing before dismissing them, and we think if the Board adopted this plan with regard to school teachers, their actions would command more respect, and the public would have more confidence in them.

A meeting of persons interested in starting a butter and cbeese factory in this district is called for this evening in the Volunteer Hall. We sincerely trust the invitation will be responded by the farmers in the surroundings of this town, and that all who can conveniently attend will countenance the movement with at least their presence. The establishment of such an institution would benefit farmers more than any other class, and therefore they ought to take the matter up. The excuse given respecting the failure of the paper mill that money enough could not be raised to start it will not do for this industry, as very little money is required. There is one thing which farmers should do, though. They should take no notice of persons whose habits are to run down every effort that is made to establish any kind of imlusfry in this district. They ought to think fur themselves, see whether such an industry would succeed, bow far it would benefit them, and act

accordingly, independent of any opinion which others may give.