SCHOOL MEETING, MOA FLAT.

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 150, 22 December 1870, Page 7

SCHOOL MEETING, MOA FLAT.

(From a Correspondent.)

A meeting of householders and others interested in the welfare of the Moa Flat School was held in tho schoolhouso there, on tho evening of Tuesday, December 13th ; Mr. Rintoul, Moa Flat Station, was called upon to occupy the chair.

Mr. RintouL in opening the proceedings, said that tho reason of their being met together was well known to all. The Moa Flat School has, from the foundation, been possessed of a most efficient teacher, in whose ability and zeal he was sure the great majority of the parents had the most implicit confidence. Unfortunately there was a minority — he was glad to say a minority small in number aud trifling in influence — who, for some occult reason, had continually exerted all their power to coerce Mr. Smith into resignation. At an illegal and informal meeting, the minority succeeded in obtaining a majority in the committee, and the result was that Mr. Smith was harrassed into sending in his resignation. They wore met together to repair this act of injustice, to express regret for the past, and to secure the services of a tried and faithful servant for the future. He Avould not detain them further, but called upon Mr. Eady to move the first resolution, as follows: — " That this meeting desires to express, in the most emphatic manner, its disapprobation of the proceedings which have led to the resignation of the teacher ; and desires also to express the high sense entertained by the great majority of parents in the Moa Flat district of the efficient and able manner in which Mr. Smith lias discharged his arduous and onerous duties."

Mr. M'Leod seconded, and the motion was carried by acclamation. Mr White moved, " That seeing it is highly inexpedient that the district should 'be deprived of tho valuable services of Mr. Smith, tho following gentlemen, name'y, Messrs. Kitto, Eady, and mover be appointed a committee to request Mr. Smith to withdraw his resignation, aud to make the necessary arrangements with the Education Board.

Mr. Kitto seconded, and the motion was put and carried.

Mr. C. Nicholson, in moving the next resolution, did not desire to cast any stigma on the unquestioned ability and unimpeachable character of every member of the Moa Flat School Committee, but he did desire to enunciate a principle, and to denounce a system illogical, irrational, and utterly indefensible. He appeared before them as an advocate of central administration, as one who believed the efficiency of the school system and the comfort of tho teacher would be greatly advanced by the removal of all power from petty local bodies, brimful of prejudice, patronage, and spite in favour of a body composed of public men of tried character and judgment, whose minds would be unbiassed by local colouring, and unaffected by any difference of country or creed. Ha would not detain them by recapitulation of benefits which must be patent to all, but would

content himself with requesting tVir cordial support for the motion wiiich he now moved, " That this meeting, before breaking up, desires to place on record its protest against tho present absurd and injurious system of scho >! management, by which so much power ia placed in the hands of committees, often composed of irresponsible and utterly illiterate men. It is of opinion that tho efficiency of any teacher must be greatly impaired by the restraint imposed by the control of such a body. The chairman is requested to bring this resolution under the notice of the proper authorities." — (Loud cheers.)

Mr. M'Leod seconded. Greater reforms he said had been initiated in even smaller places than Moa Flat ; and he trusted the stone they now sot rolling would progress, and accumulate until it became au avalanche lit to ensepulchre the ignorance and prejudice Mr. Nicholson lucidly portrayed. He would not be surprised should the future historian of Otago attribute more importance to their mcotiug that night than any of them dreamt of, and head a leading chapter of his great work " great school reform commenced on Mount Benger." — (Laughter.)

The motion was put and carried with enthusiasm.

The following statement, which has sinco received the signatures of uiuetenths of the parents, was then adopted as fully expressing the sentiment of the meeting. Before adopting it tho committee appointed to confer with Mr. Smith returned, and annouucod that that gentleman had withdrawn his resignation.

To J. Hislop, Esq. The undersigned householders and heads of families having heai*d with regret that Mr. Smith, schoolmaster, Moa Flat, has, in a manner, been coerced into resigning his office, desire in tho most emphatic manner to protest agatust a pi'oceeiling which will deprive their f.imili<2S of the services of a gentleman so eminently qun lined to supervise their moral aud mental training. They desire to bear the warmest testimony to 3lr. Smith's perseverance, temper, and success as a teacher, and to the excellent results accruing from the example of his unaffected piety of life and conversation.

Further, the undersigned would represent that fha body which has displa3 r ed so much hostility to Mr. Smith is not, nor ever h is been, a school committee, having b'Hri elected in dh'ect violation of sections XIV. and XV. of the ordinance, and therefore, but in common fairness to the present te.ichcr and to tb.3 bidk of the residents, tha question should be left in abeyance until a duly qualified committee can be found. Considering all the f<ict? of the case, Hie undersigned aro strongly of opinion that the removal of Air. Smith would nut only be highly detrimental to the best interests of the district, bat also highly prejudicial as a precedent for the future. They understand that Mr. Smith is willing to withdraw the informal resignation which was extorted from him, and most earnestly request that his services will be continued in a field where he has already proved so acceptable and usefid.

The proceedings terminated with the usual vote of thanks to tbe chair.