EDUCATION BOARD.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 6, Issue 1657, 10 April 1884, Page 2

EDUCATION BOARD.

o (From the Post). A meeting of the Education Board was hold at the ofiices this morning. Present—Mr J", R. Blair (in the chair), Rev J, Paterson, Dr Newman, and Messrs W. Hutchison, IT. Bunny, W. C. Buchanan, M.H.H., and W. Mason, M.H.R. The first business was a motion of which the Rev J. Paterson had given notice, to the effect that the resolution of the last meeting asking asking Mr Young, of the Terrace School, to send in his resignation be rescinded, and that he bo now allowed to withdraw his resignation, At Mr Paterson's request a quantity of correspondence was read. There was a memorial from 91 parents of the children attending the school, asking Mr Young to with draw his resignation; and a letter from Mr Young to the Chairman of the school committee, referring to tho dosire of the parents that the misunderstanding should be cleared up, and adding that while expressing regret for what had occurred, he should be happy to meet him (the Chairman) and his colleagues to shake hands over the matter. Lastly, a letter was read from the committeo stating that the matter of the,resignation was out of their hands, but expressing pleasure at the receipt of Mr Young's communication. Mr Paterson, in speaking to the motion, urged that the action of the Board in asking Mr Young to send in his resignation was inflicting a severe punishment on that gentleman for any indiscretions that might have occurred on his part, There was nothing to

justify Mr Young's dismissal from a position which he had filled with so much credit for the last nine years, Considering that he was 'supported by so large a number of the parents, he ought now to bo reinstated. The Terrace School was looked upon as one of the leading schools of the district, and this fact was largely due to tlio exertions of Mr 'Young, • Mr Bunny, thought they should have some expression of opinion from the local committee.- If the Board reinstated Mr Young, the committee might refuse to take him. He also pointed out that if the Terrace School were converted into the Normal School, Mr Young's position would bo abolished, After some further conversation, the Chairman pointed but that the motion had not been seconded, .. In reply'to Dr Newman,-the Chairman said if the motion wore lost, Mr Young could apply for another position, " '■■ • Therebeing no seconder, the Chairman declared that Mr Paterson's motion had lapsed. Nr Hutchison expressed the opinion that Mr Paterson had not brought forward the matter in ' a judicious manner. The Rev. J. -Paterson replied that he would never ask Mr Young or anyone else to do what he would not do himself, If, he (the speaker) had' been dismissed by the Board, he would never come to them again begging for another situation. '■■ '■■■■■■■

The report of tho Normal School Committee (tho substance of which has already beon published) was read, It was principally to the effect that the Terrace School should be converted into a training college and practicing school, and that so.' as to get the ,£IOOO promised by the Government, a further ,£IOOO should be appropriated from the building fund to enable the necessary alterations to be carried out. The licv. J. Patorson urged that there was ample accommodation in the present buildings at /Thorndon for a training school, Mr Mowbray's school and an infant school, He did not think the Terrace school was a suitable site for a training school, and protested against thoTerrace School being remodelled and its character destroyed. Tho Chairman said the present school was practically a barn and required remodelliug under any circumstances. He asked the Inspector his opinion as to tho advisableness of the conversion,

Mr Lee replied that if the Board thought it the best position for a training school the architect, the Normal master, and himself seemed to have hit upon a plan which met the wishes of the Board, It was proposed to have a theatre or examination room, and to erect a model country school on the girls' play-ground. The land was limited, but they would manage by cutting down the play-ground. The teaching in tho practising department would not be inferior to that of my other school in the town.

The Eev. J. Paterson pointed out that the Thorndon building was built specially for a Normal School, and now to go to so much expense to convert the Terrace School seemed preposterous.

Tho Chairman said there was such a thing as gaining experience. Tho present building was forced on them by tho Government,

The Rev J, Patorson <fairt thera were about 1G girls in the Normal School, and as soon as the Board had trained them they married, and so the Board lost them. ' Mr Hutchison said the Thormlon School was under a committee, and so was not properly available as a practising school. An infants' ucliool was required for Thovndon, and in any case the- Terrace School would have to bo remodelled. By converting it into a training school they would get assistance from tho Government which they would not otherwise get, so that for all these reasons tho plan now proposed was the most economical one. After somo further discussion Mr Bunny moved the adoption of the report, which was seconded by Mr Mason and carried, Mr Paterson alone dis-

senting. It was then formally resolved, on tho motion of the Chairman, that Mr Young's resignation be accepted as from the Ist May. This concluded the business, and the Board adjourned.