CORRESPONDENCE.

Waikato Times, Volume XVI, Issue 1350, 24 February 1881, Page 3

CORRESPONDENCE.

[Our correspondence columns are impartially open to all", but we do not in any way identify ourselves with opinions expressed tkeioin.]

THE BOA 1 D OF EDUCATION AND SCHOOL COMMITTEES.

TO THE EDITOR.

Sib. — The enclosed circulars from the City School Committee, which I presume have beeu forwarded to all committee-* throughout the Waikato, may perhaps be interesting reading to the general public. Per-onally Ihavenothadsuchexperienoeof the encroaching tendencies of the Board as to justify the ad million of the premises in the circular, dated 10th February. What thesehiKhcrimesandmiNderueanourri are Mr Gorrie doeH not otatp, and I am very sceptical of his ahility to prove 8<» strong an indictment. That the Act does give the Board too large powers in trifling matters, which should be under the sole [ control of the committee, I am willing to admit ; Mich as for instance the control of the School fund, whprein it is not held ! that the i-even householders comprising ! thecommittee are capable of administering the £10 or £15 which forms the whole income of many committees, without the instruction of the Board. Thib in certainly an absurdity. The Board may, in Rome instance-*, have removed teachers without due conhideration for the committees, who are undoubtedly the diiect repret-en-tutivos of the people, and not the mere machines which the speciouß arguments of the Herald would have as to believe But on the other there \\ onld be danger in givtng the committees full control over the appointment of teachers, which would no doubt, be the desideratum aimed at by some. The school teacher occupies, or oujjht to occuy)y too impoitanfc and honouiable a position in the Rocial body politic to be under the sole influence or control of committee*, elected for the year, and who, in many instances it may be buppased, I ardly realise the impoitnuce or even the nature of the trust confided to them. Instance* wou'd no doubt occur in which the teacher would feel that hi« position would depend upon the private feelings in his favour or against him of local magnates, and having of necessity to look on which side his bread was buttered, he might be under an undue influence very detiimental to the general cau-e of education in his district On the other hand, we in Waikato, at any rate, can look on good school buildings a'most wherever there are sufficient children to justify their erection, conducted by teachers in general well qualified for their duties, and with residences generally superior to those of the surrounding 1 bettler-i. No doubt faults have been committed both by the Board and the committees, but still this is the result of the administration of the Board a* at present constituted. -It mast be remembered that any change in the relations between the Board and the committees would require lejrisUitive sanction, and is there not danger in opening up the question at all, at leiist until the pie^ent system gets more firmly established ? If once a bill amending the Kducation Act got into committee, there is no telling what objectionable clauses raiyht be inserted before perhaps the guardians of the present system, lulled into fal*e security, knew wheie the danger came from. Ido hope the school committees in attempting to remedy their grievances will know whin "to let well alone." In Mr Gorrie's second ciicul.tr I am afraid heii in danarer of falling into the error attributed to the Board of "encroaching upon the piivilege-> of committees" by attempting to influpn.-e their choice of a mem er of the Bnaid of Education. Mr Thompson may be everything that is stated, but that Mr Gorrie's cnciilar will be anything but detrimental to his canvass I have strong doubts, as I think it will be a very general opinion that the City School Commihteo have gone out of their way to take up the po-'tion of canvdis p r for any candidate. — I am, &c, Edward G. Me Minn. Harapepe, Feb. 19. 1881.

[enclosures ] "Auckland, February 10, 1881.— Sir: In consequence of the persistent, encroachment by the Board of Education on the rights and privileges of School Committees as conferred by this Act, it han been deemed advisable th it a conference of all the School Committees of the Auckland District nhould ba held for the purpose of taking 1 into connideration the working of the Education Act, especially with reference to the relations between the Boaid and the Committees, and to decide what steps should be taken iv the interest* of the latter. The City School Committee thenjfote respectfully invite your attendance at Ruch conference, to be held at the Wellesley-ntreet School, Auckland, on Friday, March 11, at 7.30 p.m. It is desirable that as many of the School Committees as possible should be represented, if not by all the members, at any rate by the chairman and one or ruore from each, who shall have authority to concur on behalf of their respective committees with such decision a» may be anived at by the conference. Should it be found impracticable for any of your members to be present, it is busjtfested tln.t you should authorise some person in Auckl md to act on your behalf, or send such authority to me ; but it is hoped that the several committees will realise the importance of sending representatives from their own number. — W. Gobbib, Chairman Auckland City School Committee.— The Chairman Harapipi School Committee."

"Auckland, February 14, 1881.— Sir: The City Committee solicit the favour of the vote of $ our committee for Mr Thomas Thompson, as a member of the Board of Education. Mr Thompson is intimately acquainted with the working of the Education Act, and is pledged to support the rights of the School Committees. — VV. Gorbib, Chairman Auckland School Committee. — The Chairman Har&pipi School Committee."