TEMUKA DISTRICT HIGH SCHOOL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1164, 12 April 1884, Page 2

TEMUKA DISTRICT HIGH SCHOOL.

A public meeting; was held last W ednesday evening in the Temuka schoolroom, to consider the notice of motion tabled by Dr Foster st the last meeting''*' of the Education Board, to the effsct that three months’ notice be given to the Head Master. Mr Kirk (Chairman of th® School Committee) presided, and there was a large attendance. The Chairman said he had called the meeting to consider the notice of motion given by Dr Foster at the last meeting of the Education Board, to the effect that three months’ notice should be given to the Head Master. Dr Foster gave no reason for the course he had adopted, but jf he gathered, thiough being Chairman of the School Committee, that when the School was declared a High School, a resolution was passed that all teacher* of District High. Schools should b® graduates of L Diversities. Mr Wood had attended a University, but had not obtained a degree, and he only wanted reasonable time now to pass. But th«l Sooth Canterbury Board of Education insisted that he should go up at a certain time, and he (the Chairman) thought it would not be fair to the parents of children that they should have no voice in the matter. He had called the meeting to give them an opportunity of expressing their views as to whether Mr Wood hr(| given satisfaction or not. He believed everyone was thoroughly satisfied with Mr Wood, and that they would bo unanimous for keeping him in the school, (Cheers and expressions of approval). His own children hud been attending the 4, school, and he found they had made" excellent progress. Mr Wood was thoroughly qualified to teach the higher branches, and if he got three years to prepare he would take out his degree and bepeifect. There was a member of the Board present, and he hoped he would tell them what was meant by this action. If any sound reason for it could be given he would waive his objections. He did not think the Board had any right to pas® the resolution without consulting the Committee. He thought the people

ought to have a voice in the matter and he would leave it in their hands now, and he hoped they would let Mr Talbot see they fully objected to Dr Foster’s motion being carried. Mr Talbot had much pleasure in being present. The whole affair had been explained by the Chairman. When the resolution constituting the school a District High School was carried he was in favor of it because he did not see any harm in it. Immediately after, when it was resolved that the teacher should have a University degree, he saw that primary education would suffer. There was no harm in the High School if it went no further than being a stepping stone to the other High Schools, but when the Board determined that all branches should he taught, his opinion was that primary education would suffer. If they were to dismiss Mr Wood now, the new applicants would be limited to graduates of Universities, and the field for selection would be thus narrowed. This would be unjust to the teacher and the school. For a man to have B.A. after hia name may show he possessed learning himself, but it did not show he could impart it to others, and it might be a long time before they could get so good a teacher again as Mr Wood. It would net be fair to dis?rrange the school now, and it would be a great injustice if the Board were to ride rough shod over the people in this way. He was not in a position to say whether it would, or not, but it would be arbiitary and unjust to do so, and he hoped the people would let the Board know of it. Another view of it was that Mr Wood had not declined to graduate. He had not ; he only asked for reasonable time, but the Board insisted upon his going up in November. He could not say how hard the examination was, but he thought the Board was not allowing reasanable time. He believed the District High School system would break down, for it was more costly than the Board would care to go on with. (Applause). In reply to a question the Chairman said the Head Master devoted only two hours a day to teaching the higher branches.

Mr Russell asked whether it was compulsory on the Board to force the master to take out a degree. The Chairman : Certainly not. Mr Talbot said the Board could dismiss the teacher if he did not comply with their desires.

Mr Kirk held they could not without the consent of the Committee. The Rev. Mr Gordon rose to move—- “ That the householders, viewing with alarm the notice of motion given by I)r Foster at the next meeting of the Board of Education of South Canterbury on 3rd March, re three months notice to Mr Wood, desire to protest against any such motion being carried.” if he had bad the drafting of the resolution he would not have worded it in that way exactly, but the spirit that was manifested showed quite evident that the meeting was unanimous in their approval of it. He was thus relieved of the trouble of moving that the action of the Chairman be approved of, as it was quite evident they were in full sympathy with him, while the deep interest taken by this large meeting in the matter showed they had the welfare of the school at heart. It was also evident that Mr Talbot felt a deep interest in it, and he hoped they would thank him for the noble stand he had taken in defence of the school in the Education Board. Ke had spoken like a man, and common sense ought to show the Board, that being a local man, who knew |the school had a good teacher, he was in a position to speak for it better than others could. He thought Dr Foster’s notice of motion most unkind. It asked Mr Wood to prepare for an examination in a few months which took Dr Foster many years. He described how students preparing had spent two years at the University, and placed themselves under the tuition of a ‘ grinder,’ whose special occupation was to prepare men for the degree, and went on to say that it was Mr Wood’s conscientiousness which made him shrink from undertaking what he knew he could not go through with success. To do justice to the school and to himself, and pay attention to the education of the children, he held that no man could prepare for such an examination in three or six months, and he thought it unkind, arbitrary and cruel of the Board to ask him to do so, and most unjust to attempt to remove him against the wishes of the people, (Cheers,) Besides, Mr Wood never exhibited any spirit of insubordination. He was willing to comply with the Board’s wishes provided he got reasonable time. To urge Mm to go up before he was ready was putting him in a false position. It was unworthy of such men as composed the Education Board to treat Mr Wood so harshly. They knew they had in him a good teacher and they ought to pay double attention to such masters as he was. He would ask them to assist the Committee in retaining the services of Mr Wood, whom they all knew to be eminently well qualified to perform bis duties. Another view of the case was that Mr Wood had never bsen examined as},to his qualifications. Had the Boaid tested whether he was fit to teach Euclid, Greek, mathematics or any of the other higher branches? or bad it been shown that any of the pupils under him were incompetent to pass their examination’s. He considered the Board’s action a species of tyranny, and very unjust and unfair to the parents of children who were making such rapid progress under Mr Wood. He wculd now move ths motion he had already read. (Applause). Mr Miles seconded the motion.

Mr Twomey said although he had no children attending the school he felt a deep interestin it, and especially in Mr Wood, on whom he looked as one of their worthiest members of society. Thinking that other people might forget all about it, he had come prepared with a petition for them to sign, which he would read, as follows ; “ To the Chairman and Members of the South Canterbury Board of Education.

“ Gentlemen,— We, the undersigned parents of children and householders resident in the Ternuka School District, learning with much regret that you contemplate giving three months’ notice to the Head Master of the Ternuka School, hereby most respectfully petition that in deliberating upon the subject you will give due weight to the following considerations . “(1) That Mr John Wood is willing to comply with your withes inasmuch as

that he will endeavor to graduate, provided you allow him reasonable time. “ (2) That as Mr Wood is a thoroughly competent teacher, and well educated in all the branches required to be taught in Hie school, no interest will in the meantime suffer.

“ (3) That Mr Wood during the time he has had charge of the school has produced excellent results, and given more than ordinary satisfaction, no less by his industrious painstaking and intelligent mode of teaching than by his exemplary conduct in private life. “ (4) That we believe his severance from the school would result in serious injury to education in the district, and on these grounds we would ask your Board to allow Mr Wood the very reasonable time of three years to graduate. And your petitioners will ever pray.”

He thought this petition, if signed, would have some weight with the Board. He did not like the wording of the resolution. The words ‘ vie.. lag with alarm’ in the resolution were too sensational. It would have been better if it read ‘ viewing with regret;’ And then he objected to the word ‘protest.’ It would have more effect if put in milder language. It was the custom in civilised society to approach any constituted authority in a respectful and polite manne •, and he hoped this course would be ado sd on the present occasion. They could be respectful, but firm ; and if they found this would not do then was the time for them to put their right foot forward, and assert their rights like men. He would now move — 1 That a petition be forwarded to the Board, praying that Mr Wood may be allowed reasonable time to graduate.’ Mr K. F. Gray thought the resolution proposed by Mr Gordon too dictatorial. It was proposed in a very telling speech, and the people present sympathised with it; but there were two sides to a question, and he believed the mild way was the best in winch to approach the Boaid. He maintained that District High Schools would prove very valuable yet. It would eventually result in their being the principal secondary schools, as the colony would not be able to support High Schools. Many of them would remember that at Home secondary and primary education was imparted in the same schools, and he believed they would be a success in this country yet. The Board of Education’s conduct had become very arbitrary, but they had a duty to perform —that was to see that the teachers were up to the required standard, and the meeting could not find fault with that. What they had to find fault with was the manner in which the Board had gone to work. They had heard Mr Gordon say it was impossible to prepare in the time, and he was a good authority on the subject. He felt sure the petition would have great weight with the Board, and he would support it. The Rev. Mr Gordon said if he had known of the existence of the petition he would not have moved the resolution in the form he had. Mr L' p-m’mvd thought the resolution ought to bo carried. Mr Cant : Give it to them in all its ruggeiiuess. Mr Twomey said ho would vote for the resolution if altered. The Rev. Mr Gordon said he would alter the resolution to read as follows—‘That the householders of Temuku viewing with regret the notice of motion given by Dr Foster at the meeting of the Board of Education of South Canterbury on 3rd March re three months’ notice to Mr Wood, desire to request the Board to grant Mr Wood until November 1885.” If this resolution were carried Mr Twomey’s petition could come next. Mr Twomey asked the Rev. Mr Gordon to add to his amended resolution ‘ and that a petition to that effect be forwarded to the Board of Education.’ The Rev. Mr Gordon : I am in the hands of the Chairman. Mr Brown would like to see the resolution protest against the action of the Board.

Mr Talbot said Mr Gray had stated the people of this district had acquiesced in constituting the High School. He thought they had only ‘let things slide.’ The children of nine-tenths of the people never went beyond the 6th standard, and these people had a right to demand that the first care in the school should be primary education. Mr Gray said the people here were unanimous in that matter of the High School. It was advertised in the papers, the C vmmittee had it under discussion for a’ong time and had consented to it unanimously. In fact it was by no means forced upon the people. The Rev. Mr Gordon pointed out that the Board recognised Mr Wood as the teacher of the school when it was proclaimed a high school, and now they give notice to dismiss him. That was unfair and unjust. The Rev. Mr Gordon’s motion, as amended was put and carried unanimously.

Mr Brown said he had a resolution to propose, and it was—“ That this meeting respectfully urge the Board of Education to allow Mr Wood to retain his present position in consideration of his undertaking to graduate not later than November 1886, going up for his first examination in November 1885.” He had aletter from the Chairman of the Board of Education, and he had consulted Mr Wood, and this was exactly what would suit both. He believed the Board would grant this. The difference between this and the offer made by the Board was that the Board wanted him to go up in 1884, and that this asked to allow him time to go up in 1885. If this resolution were carried it was alb that was required, and it would answer the purpose well. Mr Russell seconded the motio,n. The Rev. Mr Gordon objected to this resolution on the ground that it was the same as the one they had already passed. Mr Twomey suggested that Mr Brown should add to his resolution, ‘ and that a petition be presented to the Board by Mr Talbot to the above effect.’ Mr Brown consented to do so. The Rev. Mr Goadon ■ wished to expunge from the resolution everything except the addition put to it concerning the petition. The first part of Mr Brown’s resolution was covered by the resolution already carried, and it would be tautology to repeat it. Besides, it would bind Mr Wood to pass in 1886, and he did not believe in binding him to such hard and fast rules.

Mr Brown said he had it from Mr Wood that he was prepared to do this, and he felt sure the Board would agreo to it.

Mr Twomey did not like to move an amendment to the motion as he would like the meeting to be unanimous if possible. He would suggest to Mr Brown to withdraw his present resolution, and move— ‘ That a petition be forwarded to the Board of Education in accordance with the resolution already passed.’ Mr Brown declined to do bo.

Mr 'JL'womey said that in that ease he should now move it as an amendment. Hr did no), like to split up the voles, as he wished the meeting to be unanimous, but there was no other way out of the difficulty. Mr Blyth seconded the amendment.

Mr Cant wished to see the .petition agreed to for then the whole of the householders could sign it, and it would have some weight.

Mr Talbot said that no doubt some sort of a petition ought to begot up. The Chairman said there was nothing new in Mr Brown’s resolution. The same thing had already been discussed by the Board in the shape of correspondence between themselves and Mr Wood.

The Rev. Mr Gordon again urged that Mr Brown’s resolution was only a repetition of the first one carried, and that it would not look well in the eyes of the Board to be going over the same thing again. The debate on this point lasted about half an hour, Mr Brown still maintaining that his resolution was all that was required, and. grounded his argument on the letter he had received from the Rev. Mr Barclay and Mr Wood’s acquiescence with the proposal.

At last the Chairman was called upon to put it to the meeting, and, on doing so, Mr Twomey’s amendment was carried almost unanimously, only the mover and seconder of the resolution voting against it. Mr Gray then moved, and Mr Henry seconded —‘ That the petition laid before the meeting by Mr Twomey be adopted and signed.’ The Rev. Mr Gordon moved as an amendment —‘That clauses 1 and 2 of the petition be expunged.’ He considered that clause 2 called the judgment of the Board in question.

Mr Cant: Why, that is what you have been doing all night. (Laughter). Mr Russell moved as a further amendment —‘ That a Committee consisting of Messrs Twomey, Gray, Brown, Blyth, the Chairman and the Rev. Mr Gordon be appointed to amend the petition.’ The Rev. Mr Gordon said ho would withdraw his own amendment in favor of Mr Russell’s.

Mr Bolton seconded Mr Russell’s amendment.

Mr Twomey rose to reply to objections made against the petition, but the Chairman ruled him out of order, and on the amendment being put it was carried by a large majority. On the motion of Mr D. Henry, seconded by Mr Lawson, a vote of thanks to Mr Talbot was carried unanimously. A vote of thanks to the Chairman terminated the meeting.

The Committee appointed at the above meeting met last Thursday evening, and modified the petition as follows : —Clause 1 to read : “ That Mr Wood has expressed his readiness to comply with your wishes to graduate in 1886, provided you allow him until November, 1885, before requiring him to go up for his first examination.” The ‘three years’ mentioned in the last paragraph of clause 4 was altered so as to agree with amendment in clause 1. With these alterations the petition as printed above was adopted and is now being signed. We should recommend the Board to grant its prayer, for it expresses nothing which is unreasonable.