MODEL SCHOOL COMMITTEE, CLYDE.

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 151, 29 December 1870, Page 4

MODEL SCHOOL COMMITTEE, CLYDE.

(To the Editor.)

"To parents, and those to whom it

most concerns."

Sib,, — In this particular instance, I consider a few truthful and unprejudiced remarks are much required on the above subject. About ten days ago a meeting of our School Committee was convened to fix a day for the annual examination of the pupils. The day appointed was the 22nd December, and also the business before the meeting was to appoint gentlemen to examine the children, which resulted in the return of Mr Pyke, and a young aspirant named Christopher, who represents the Bank of New South Wales. The children were all gaily dressed, and prepared in their various branches of education to contest for the prizes, which were limited in all to fourteen. The school was duly opened at the usual hour. Mr Ings, the master, kept the children waiting patiently till about half-past 3 o'clock, but up to that time not one single member of the committee of which Mr Pyke is a member put in an appearance. Mr Ings, almost exasperated, wrote a kind note to the clerk of the committee, Christophers, for an explanation, why the committee should treat him and the children under his tuition in such a cruel manner. The reply was to the effect that it was not convenient for Mr Pyke to attend. Now, Sir, Mi- Pyke has been marching about the street of Clyde this very day for several hours. Through your columns I ask Mr Pyke, and thewhole of the School Committee, to explain why they should treat the schoolmaster, children, and parents in such a dis-

graceful and lukewarm manner. If Mr Pyke thought that some of the smart youths in Clyde knew more than himself in arithmetic, or any of the branches in which the children were to be examined, why dodge about the bush. All he required to do was simply to inform the committee that it was not convenient for him to examine the children, and I have little doubt but what it would have been within the reach of the committee to procure some other qualified gentleman. The result of this insulting conduct on the part of the committee is that Mr Ings is going to examine the children to-morrow (Friday, 23rd Dec.) upon his own responsibility. — I am, yours, &c, A Youth. Clyde, Dee. 22, 1870.

[By way of contrast, we would dii'ect the attention of our youthful correspondent aud our Clyde readers to the report of the Lawrence Grammar School examination, in another column.—Ed. T. T.]