THE CAMBRIDGE WEST SCHOOL COMMITTEE AND THE BOARD OF EDUCATION.

Waikato Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1593, 19 September 1882, Page 2

THE CAMBRIDGE WEST SCHOOL COMMITTEE AND THE BOARD OF EDUCATION.

On Saturday evening last a public meet ing of the householders of the Cambridge West district was held in the school to consider the action of the board in dismissing the assistant teacher. The chair was occupied by Mr W. Howie, chairman of the committee, and almost all the parents of the district were present. The correspondence which had passed between both bodies on the matter^ was read, and a somewhat animated discussion ensued. The chairman informed the meeting that the actual power of dismissal lay with the board, but that, according to the act, they had to consult the committee first. In this case, the board had completely ignored the committee, for though they asked the latter's opinion on the matter, they proceeded to carry out their own idea without ascertaining that opinion. Other opinions of a like nature were expressed, and one gentleman maintained that the board were only supposed to consult the committee in regard to certificated teachers, and not in regard to probationary teachers ; consequently they had acted rightly. Mr T. Hicks showed the meeting that if the present assistant teacher was removed, the board could in no way benefit their condition ; as they could only give them another uncertifieated teacher ; this being all the attendance warranted. Mr P. Hicks maintained that the very fact of the board having asked the committee for their advice in the matter sufficiently proved that the .committee were entitled to a hearing. He would read the petition to the Minister of Education winch he had drawn up, and which he hoped would meet the views of the meeting :— " To the Honorable the Minister for Education. — I have the honor, on behalf of the Cambridge West School Committee and householders, to bring before your notice the following facts, and to request that you will take such action in regard to the matter as you may deem advisable in the interests of the public. (1). That by letter dated the , 1882, the secretary of the Central Board of Education in Auckland stated that the board proposed discharging the assistant teacher on the ground of her being uncertificated, and asked the local committee had they suggestion to make relative thereto. (2). That by letter of the same date the assistant teacher was requested to resign her position in the school. (3). That upon receiving the letter first mentioned the committee requested that the assistant teacher should be allowed to retain her position until Christmas. (4). That a reply was received from the Central Board declining to accede to this request. (5). That a petition signed by parents of all children attending the school was forwarded ,to the Central Board requesting that the assistant teacher's services should be so retained. (6). To this petition a reply waa received, stating that the board adhered to their former decision. (7). That the local committee, and the parents of children, attending the school have been thoroughly satisfied with the assistant teacher's capabilities as an intructress, and that the head teacher is perfectly satisfied with her services. ' I am requested by a 'resolution passed at a full meeting of the looal committee and householders to bring the whole of the circumstances under your notice. . The committee consider that their suggestions having been invited by the Central, Bofird, relative to the proposed dismissal, and such suggestions having been made, and subsequently ignored,' tnat the gQmmjttee have,b £ een placed in a, false and improper position,' and they further consider* the' action- of ,tne Central' Board to have beenrprjsjiiidi;.. cial to the' interests of , education Jin ' v the diatrict r and:destructiye.of6th"e influence, "whioja a bbdytpcQupy^ig -tl|e,;posit|on of the Central^Board'BhbuW^maijatain* 8 '; -, ' ,