GERALDINE SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2132, 2 December 1890, Page 2

GERALDINE SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

A special meeting of this committee was held on Friday evening last. Present • Messrs E. H. Pearpoint (chairman), A. White, J. Williams, C. E. Sherratt, R. Eiordan, and J. W. Pye.

The chairman stated that the meeting was called to consider a letter received from the head master in reply to various resolutions passed at the last meeting of the committee. At the previous meeting of the committee a resolution bad been passed as follows “ That the head master be informed that, the town board having made a passing at the south corner of the large domain, no boys or girls must be allowed to cross the fences, | and requesting him to see that this is carried out: It having come to the knowledge of the committee that the head master was giving tuition to outside pupils during school hours, it was resolved that the chairman write him that this cannot be allowed to continue. It was decided to ask the : master for an explanation of the irregularity of the home work given to the children, and to enquire as to what had become of the lamps from the old school. Complaints having bison made to the committee of the headmaster having punished a boy with undue severity it was decided that the chairman should ascertain from the master his explanation and report to the meeting.” The above decisions were forwarded to the head master by the ci'airman in a letter, at the foot of which he expressed his willingness to see the master at any time the latter could make it convenient. In the master’s reply, to consider which the special meeting was called, the master said it appeared to him that the committee considered he was there for a combination of the. duties of policeman and town crier. The matter of the park ' fences did not concern Him, and, in , his opinion, lay entirely between the lessee of the park and the public, The lamps did not belong to the committee, but were bought by himself and others for the purpose of lighting a class-room for a drawing-class. He would, however, be glad to lend them to-the committee on that understanding. When he received in writing a copy of the charges re the undue severity of punishment he would be happy to answer them. When be was informed as to what the complaints of ’* various parents ” were be might possibly send an explanation. He could not promise, however, as be claimed the right to give much, little, or no home work, without asking the committee’s leave. As to giving tuition to pupils above school age (15 years), ho confessed that he had from first to last transgressed the requirements of the Education Act, as one and another had arrived at the end of school age, and had been allowed to remain, which, of course, ought not to have been done. Previous to the receipt of the committee’s letter he had three, aged respectively 16 years, 15 years 8 months, and 20 years. Ihe last-mentioned was a young man who had in view the passing of the E. examination in January next, and he attended the school on the same terms as the others, namely,: to receive what attention he might at intervals and moments when Ihe master might be disengaged. None of them were charged any fee whatever. In accordance with the committee’s veto he had intimated to these scholars that they must cease to attend the school. If the chairman wished to see him on any of the above matters he would find him at the school in business hours. In conclusion he said that in hi? opinion the aim and object of the committee, or of some of the members, was to find some occasion for passing resolutions of a harrassing and annoying character against the head master and publishing them in the newspapers.

The letter was discussed at some length, the opinion of the committee being that it was both insulting and uncalled for. The following resolution was finally passed That this committee, through its chairman, on Nov, 17th, 1890, did respectfully request the headmaster to carry out certain minor matters which they considered for the general benefit of the school. The headmaster replied thereto on the same date in a most discourteous and defiant manner. The committee now beg respectfully to call his attention to the due observance of the matters referred to, and further to state that unless the headmaster is prepared to work more in harmony with the committee in carrying out its reasonable requirements, and conducting his comspoa-

deuce with and his reports to the committee in a more courteous and gentlemanly manner, this committee will be reluctantly compelled to place all the facts before the Board of Education.”

It was further resolved —“ That the three pupils over school age whem the headmaster has lately struck _ off the roll be reinstated, and that this committee grants to them special leave to Attend the school until such leave is revoked.” The meeting then terminated.