THE CAMBRIDGE WEST SCHOOL DISPUTE.

Waikato Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1611, 31 October 1882, Page 2

THE CAMBRIDGE WEST SCHOOL DISPUTE.

The following is a more detailed report of what took place at the Board of Education meeting on Friday :— A letter from the Minister of Education was received enclosing a petition from the local committee protesting against the jactiou of the "Central ßoard in Auckland" in dismissing Miss Allen from this school,-— The Chairman said that Miss Allen had failed to pass the necessary examination, and consequently, as she had repeatedly failed, the board thought it proper to dispense with her services."— MrLawhley; I think we are not acting upon a sound principle in cases of this kind.— Mr Hobbs : 1 have seen some of these people, aud they feel very sore upon this subject. They state that this ypjujg'lady gave the l oTßa^est ! "wituifaction.' '-The 1 'parents' • ' of ffie'childreh were desirous that she shouJTd iVn&m 4 % % %6fsm6\f T m Wtmned

some examinationiqfjjteaphevsfor the purpose of determining whether there should be any dismissal in particular cases. A person with very moderate qualifications as to scholarship might be an excellent teacher, rl know a most scholarly and erudite persou who is not good as a teacher. But there is another aspect of this matter which I think wo should have in view ; when a local committee makes a recommendation to this board, their wishes should be complied with, unless there were very special circumstances indeed to prevent that being done.— Mr Hobbs : I believe there aie many persons letained in the employment of the board who have not obtained certificates.— The Inspector : We are endeavouring to get rid of these as rapidly as possible. It cannot be done all at once, but the board is doing what it can to place certificated teachers in all schools. It takes time to do that.— Mr Laishley : I think the wishes of the committee should be complied with, and I move, "That in order to carry out the principle that the wishes of local committees, unless there are special circumstances to the contrary be complied with, that the wishes of the local com mittee m tins instance be acceded to. ' Vl r Clark; I am inclined to agree wits the general tenour of Mr La^hley's reso iution, because it in .accord wit!) the policy winch we have endeavoured t» carry out at this board. But it reaches farther than that. If it would operate t<> the extent that in all cases where the local committee, apart from the special circumstances of a particular case, should express a wish the board would be bound to follow them, contrary to its own judgment. That is a proposition which I annot support. —Mr Laishley : I think tlie general principle is of importance. Special cases would, of course, be couriered upon their respective merits. But I do not thin - the policy recommended u my n solution lias always been tin p dicy of this boaid. — The Chairman: fhcre was a second resolution of the hoard adhering to a previous decision. U-eording to the standing 01 dei*s a resolution of the board cannot be icscinded \ ttliout notice of motion for the purpose rlr L.iishley therefore cannot pass his > solution except by motion or notice. — Mr Hobbs : I do not think that a motion ■mould be disposed of in thi3 way upou a Here technicality. — Mr Laishley : I shall give notice.