MR. SANSON IN REPLY.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XXII, Issue 9190, 14 August 1880, Page 2

MR. SANSON IN REPLY.

TO THE EDITOE. Sir, — I think a Member of School Committee must suffer a great deal from indigestion, and judging from his statements and want of- perception 1 should say that he is afflicted with hallucination, as he evidently is unable to see wherein he has misrepresented my actions as a member of the Education Board. I respectfully request that you will insert a few remarks on the various resolutions referred to by him. He says that " one of the first proposals with whichiie was identified was that of having one Inspector in common with the Wellington Board." • Now, Sir, it was intended to have Mr Lee as Inspector of Schools for the Wanganui district only. There is nothing in the resolution about having Mr Lee to inspect the schools in both districts ; had that been the case I contend that it would have been better for this district than at present. In referrenoe to the logic of a Member of School Committee " thnt one man cannot serve two masters " that may be true where there are two masters whose interests are opposed to each other, i »., God and Mammon, but I can name several men who serve two masters satisfactorily and receive payment from each. This proves that a Member of School Committee does not understand the book of which in his profession he should know the most. A Member of School Committee states that " the cadet pupiltoachership furnishes another illustration. By this scheme Mr Sanson proposed to give to an advanced pupil tho honour and advantage of doing all the work, while receiving neither the status nor the emoluments of a pupil teacher." The circular issued by the Board clearly shows that cadets have the status of a pupil teacher in every respect except the salary. I q,m sorry to s,ay that the revenue of thp Board, will not allow any payment beyond that for their instruction. lam happy to be able to inform a Member of School Committee that several scholars hare entered the service of the Board as cadets, and are doing good, not only in preparing themselves for the profession, but also in relieving the teacheM, whose energies in many of the country schools especially are too heavily taxed; With regard to his remarks respecting the reading of the constitution and rules of the Tpacheys' Aosoeialjqn, I harp only to say that tfyey are entirely falgo. In the matter of the erection of a Normal school he states that " we must not even join Wellington." Now the resolution reads " bo that your teachers residing in Wanganui and Wellington," &c, clearly showing that a Member of School Committee has been guilty of' knowingly perverting the truth. As to the precise lopality of lhat institution I am indifferent. ' I may state that 1 cannot understand how the word Norman in place of Normal appears in the resolution. I quite understood the meaning of the term and what I was writing. }f I made a mechanical slip I am prepared "jo bear the blame of it. I submit that we are as much entitled to have a training school established as the people of Canterbury and Otago. If we cannot have one of the best, let us have the best we can — half a loaf is better than no bread. A Member of School Committee attempts |;o criticise, the grammar of other people, and y&t 1 notice in his letter of the 22nd July the following remarkable sentence, viz. : — " There has not been almost a single proposal before the Board in which he was not the mover or seconder, or to which he had not somp amendment to submit." This no doub,"fc is elegant English in his estimation. Verily a greater than Solomon is here. People who live in glass houses should not throw stones. In conclusion I may state that I do not intend to reply to any more of " Committee-Man's " letters, as my time is fully occupied in subjpets more profitable, and in which I pake greater pleasure than in replying to vague charges ni£|,de by a man who, is mean enough to stab another iv the dark.— l am, &c, H. Saws on.