LE BON'S BAY SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume I, Issue 67, 9 March 1877, Page 2

LE BON'S BAY SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE AKAROA MAIL. Sir, —Poor Le Bon's Bay seems to be again passing through one of its chronic stages of suffering in educational matters, with which it has been afflicted more or less from the period of its educational birth. It has been truly unfortunate, perhaps more so than any other district within the province of Canterbury. The records of the R.M. Court, of Akaroa, teem with evidence of its repeated attempts to settle its difficulties with contractors, sureties, and others, who proved obstacles in the way of the wise-headed committee carrying out their manifold duties. Now that contractors, collectors, and so forth, no longer exist for this excellent committee to worry or interfere with (for the Road Board is allowed a small breathing time) the unfortunate schoolmaster it seems is the next victim upon whom they mean to exercise their mischief-making disposition. Look at the personnel of this committee. God help any man in such hands. What can he do ? Surely the last act of this miserable farce, Education, is well nigh played out, and the time is near when the existence of a Committee in this place will have come to its end. What has been the history of Educational matters in Le Bon's Bay during the past three years? Has any place in Canterbury displayed more muddle, confusion, envy, bigotry, and ill feeling than Le Bon's Bay has shewn to everybody who has had anj 7 dealings with it in school matters ; or has any district been a greater source of trouble and anxiety to Board and Minister of Education during this period ? I think not, and there are few of our readers who know the facts but will fully agree with me. Ido not say that all the present Committee are to blame for the wretched state of things in the past, but are they not perpetuating the spirit ? Consider the two reports you have published carefully: are the Committee agreed as to why Mr Thomson's dismissal is recommended? Is it difficult to see through the miserable dissembled pretext ? Do these men really know what their position is and what they were elected to do ? Does the Chairman confine himself (can he?) to what is his legitimate position ? Is his own remembrance of school days so recent as to justify him asserting his opinions on school management ? Still, I cannot justify the teacher in his conduct at the previous public meeting. Insubordination is wrong—though human nature is. sometimes frail and weak ; and when a person in his position is " sat upon" by the proverbial " beggar on horse-back" he may perhaps be pardoned if resentment overpowers him. I may perhaps have occasion to address you again on this matter. I am, &c, CENSOR.