Masterton School Committee.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume IX, Issue 3078, 10 December 1888, Page 3

Masterton School Committee.

A special meeting of the above ~ Committee was held on Saturday afternoon, Present Messrs Feist (Chairman) Henall, Hogg, McEwcn, Daniells and Prngntl), The following letter was read from the Secretary of tho Education Board! Tho Education Board of the District

of Wellington, Memorandum for the Secrotary, School Committee, Masterton/ December 4th, 1888. Sir,—l am directed by Hie Chairman to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the Ist instant, confirming tho promotion of Mr Grundy, and asking that invited

.for Ibe headmaslership of tho seh.ioi, to advise you that tbe proposed nclieme was carefully considered ly the Board, who do not believe that any successor would be found who possesses better qualifications for the post. Mr Jackson is not untried m manager, he having had full charge of the largest standard school in this district, and while in that position proved himself to bo worthy of the promotion which has been proposed, I am to point out that the Board could not advortiso for teachers, while it still entortained the foregoing opinions, but must consent to withdraw Mr Jackson's namo from tbe schemo of promotion,and consequently Mr Grundy's also, befoio it could leave the mutter to be'dealt with as your Committee request, Mr Jackson has been strongly recommended by the Mount Cook Committee for 1 the new school which is in their district, but I understand they are prepared to accept the proposed arrangement as giving promotion on a more general basis,. ( Should that Committeo take advaii-i B UgetofiirthertbeirjMommendatijra By^^Bundsofjp|Afymj^tyM natter upon the contained herein/ and; accept tho assurance that in every ono of the proposed promotions the fitness of the teachers for tho proposed new positions has been most carefully considered, nnd one necessarily hinges on the other—no less than five promotions being centred in this one. A, Dorset, Secretary,

The Chairman said ho' thought it would bo unwise, in the face of that explanation to persist in their resoluW tion. It would unduly press upon Mr Grundy, and Mr Jackson being j£ thoroughly qualified for the position, as shown by his excellent testimonials, he would bo fully justified in accepting him us head master as recommended by the Bond, Mr liogg said lie did not intend to take any (inn stand against tlio action of the Board in tho present instance, Valuablo vacancies should not be filled up on the report of the Inspector or rest on tho opinions of a few mombers of the Board, but should bo thrown open to all qualified teachers. He thought it possible that had applications been invitod Mr Jackson would havo obtained the appointment, but if a better had turned up it would havo been all the nioro advantageous to theschool. Both Mr Jackson and Mr Grundy wanted to get tho Wellington appointment, which was a proof that, although they were relatives,thoy were not working a point, If applications had been infl^- vited to fill tho various vacancies in s the usual way tho Board would have placed themselves above suspicion, It k was a well known fact that although the Board mace the appointments **r thore was somolody behind pulling the wires,

Mr Daniollß objectod to the final remarks of the last speaker, Itcould hardly be termed wiro pulling. Mr Ronull said as long as tho Board took such a mode it was open to suspicion, Tho Committee, hoivever, had asserted the principle of filling vacancies by publio competition. Their motion had not been discussed by tho Board but had boen dealt with by the Chairman. That was not , a proper thing to do. He, did not, however, wish to stand in the way of the advancement of Mr Grundy and should offer no active opposition, Mr Daniells spoke in fayor of the action taken by the Board in the pre- ' sent instance and was supported bv . Mr McEwen, further discussion the owing resolution was carried:" Alflp though the Committee consider that all important appointments should be thrown open to teachers generally, theyare not inclined to stand in tlio way of Mr Grundy's promotion and therefore waivo their objection to Mr Jackson's appointmeut in the way proposed by the Board,