SUSPENSION OF PRINCIPAL

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21247, 20 August 1934, Page 11

SUSPENSION OF PRINCIPAL

Ashburton Technical ] High School i ECISION OF HOARD OF, .MANAGERS The su.-penskm of Mr R. .1. Thomp- j n. principal of the Ashburton Tech- j cal High School, "for one month, was •cided upon at a special meeting of e school board of managers held in .mmittee on Saturday evening. The tion of the board followed the resal of Mr Thompson to insert in n •wspaper a letter declaring that he - id no intention of casting reflections; i members of his board when he ; role two previous letters lo a news- j iper concerning matters raised at j e conference of the Ashburton High j :hool and Technical High School j oards to discuss the amalgamation < the two schools. ; Mr Thompson, who has been prmpa! of the school for about 15 years, formed the board that he had tole•aphed an application to the supermuation board for lease to retire on iperannuation. At (he close of the.meeting the (01-: iwing statement was issued by the lairman .(Mr A. L. Jones* and Mr . A. Charles: "The board considered the followig complaints against the principal Mr R. J. Thompson*:--'•Hi That while matters were still ndcr consideration by the boards uneerned, he wrote letters to the shburton '-Guardian" dealing with tatters raised at the conference beveen the Ashburton High School oard and the Ashburton Technical igh School Board. "i 2) That the letters contained xprcssions that were distinct reflect - ons on members of (he Technical igh School Board. -i.'J) The second letter was in-n-ted after the chairman had written > Mr Thompson requesting him to re--ain from further correspondence 'hile the matter was st.ilj under conderation, and after the chairman had. ic following morning, instructed him Kit he must, not outer into further :>rrespondence. "A copv of (he chairman's loiter jllows:Jul.Y 24, 1934. - -Dear Mr Thompson.—l noticed •ith regret that a letter appeared m ic "Guardian" yesterday over your gnature. I think it wise that a strict ilenee should be maintained in conexion with this matter. The boards ict and discussed the proposal and ave decided to allow Mr Bowden and ivself to investigate and further reort on all aspects. II is a matter, as ou must appreciate, sub judice by both oards, and any criticism by any memer of the boards, and to a far greater xtent by any member of staffs, is ecidedly out'of place and unwaranted, to say nothing of expression f lack of confidence in all concerned. " 'I am sure if you will give this natter further consideration you will cfrain from any further reference hrough the columns of the papers. By uch restraint you will be falling in vith rnv wishes as your chairman, and am sure the wishes of all member.;f your board. This will make for ; micb. happier and more wholesome reatment of the proposal.—Yours faifhully. fsignedt A. L. Jones.' "At a special meeting of the boarc leld on Julv 26. Mr Thompson mam ained that his letters were not cap ible of the construction placed oi hem bv board members and containec io reflections on them. He also main .ained that as principal he could taki aich action as he thought fit to com :>at amalgamation. The board thei iskcd Mr Thompson if he would b« prepared to insert another letter ii he following terms:--'! find that cer ain expressions used by me in m: wo previous letters have been con -■trued as casting reflections upoi nembcrs of the Technical High Schoo ioard. I did not have any intentioi jf casting such reflections, and regre hat such expressions were used b; no.' Mr Thompson refused to inser :his letter. "The board decided to report th< whole matter to (he Education Depart inent for its advice. A reply was re ::eivcd from the Director of Educatioi mating that the matter was one fo !he board to deal witl*. and that th principal was the servant of the boan and under the control of the boart At a further meeting of the boarc held on August IC. after considerabl discussion, (he board passed a resolu tion that Mr Thompson be asked t insert the following loiter in th Guardian' on Friday or Saturday:—' tind that certain expressions used b me in my two previous letters hav been construed as casting reflection upon members of the Technical Hig School Board. 1 did not have any u: tenlion of casting reflections on mcir bers of my board.' "The meeting Ihen adjourned ti Saturdav evening, when it was re ported that the letter had not ay pcared in the newspaper. In reply t a question, Mr Thompson stated th: he had not submitted the letter fc publication. Board members look a extremely grave view of the matte Mr Thompson stated that he had teli graphed to the Superannuation Boat for leave to retire on superannuate and (he matter would probably I dealt with by the Superannuatic Board next week. "A further appeal to him to publi; the letter was made by members < the board, but he declined to do so ui les.; permitted fo add something fu (her to stale what his intention writing the letters was. The followir resolutions were then carried unan mously by the board:--"That the principal 'Mr H. Thompson) be suspended for a peric of one month for wilful disobediem of the orders of the board and the chairman, the suspension . cease if, within (hat period, he n sorts in the -Guardian' the lot,. approved by the board. 1 -Thrt the senior teacher 'Mr \ i Crawford i be appointed aetmg-pn: cipal during the period ol hie su ;' pension." CHARGES AGAINST CHAIRMAN PKI.M II'AL'S ALLIGATIONS NOT ITIIELP Cl-.ar.ues of overtopping tiie bourn ! of liis office were made by the pri : cipal oi the Ashburton Technical Hi'. School iMr R. J. Thompson) again , the chairman of the school board managers 'Mr L.A.Jones), at a speci meeting of the board called to eonsid the allegations on Saturday cvenir j when Mr Thompson asked for the pr i tection of the board in the matter. 1 slated that the present position affairs was putting an unnocossu -train upon him. pirventing him In doing justice to hi.- po-itior. and ii 1 pairing his eihciency a.- principal the .-chooi. .\t the conclusion of t hearing lh<- board agreed thai t ■ charges had not been substantiated. ; The deputy-chairman of lh« boa

rj e (Mr W. G. Hillicr) presided for-the I hearing of the charges, y Mr Thompson alleged that Mr Jones e had formed a habit of walking through s the rooms and round the grounds. Ii without any attempt to see him. and - that he had once told instructors what i- sort of dress they had to wear at a brea'tmg-up function. Often, said ]] Mr Thompson. Mr Jones went into 1 lie office and asked for the minute and account books without his (Mr Thomp--0 son's'* knowledge, and at other times 4■ Mr Jones had unjustifiably accused him of giving false information. Hnrd l v a week passed, Mr Thompson .•-•aid. without Mr Jones informing him Ihal l ' he was the chairman of the board and ■"j that his wishes were the board « >cl wishes. Mr Thompson asked:--n 1 - 1 ' That the decisions of the board be >e conveyed through him as its secretary; 111 (2) that (he chairman be requested not to put forward his personal 'k opinions and requests as those of the af board: <3> That as a matter of cour- )- tcsy, the chairman obtain the necessary r- school information through him sk n ' secretarv: '4/ Thai, all necessary typii> I ing of the board's business be done in i'-| the board's otlice: '.ii that the chaii ; man be requested not to make public ! matters that are to be considered by .] • the board: <(>> that the chairman put. K l I the public right concerning the finances ■■e I of the school. ' f i Mr UA. Charles said the chairman i r was quite entitled to discuss with , members before meetings matters that were to be considered at the meeting. Mr A. Brown asked why the comi plaints, some of which were two yean .. ! »)d, were not brought up before, and Mr Thompson replied that it wtn ;• always hoped that they would smooth s I over. Mr Jones said lie had never intci • I fered with the internal running of ■ the school and he had no recollection I of ever having gone through the school i without, seeing Mr Thompson. He hs;! ' not on anv occasion asked to see a ledger, but had sometimes asked to srr • accounts which would ccme before .i | mcctins of the board. To say th?' lie dominated the staff was ludicr* r i and puerile. The board had a fi'' l ■ knowledge of everything lie had di.' e. and lie had no thought of doing an? thing bevond the wishes of the board Mr C. H. F. Maynard said llv* ■ charges were trivial and purely pro ■ -is ; sumption on the part of the principal ! He moved that, it be agreed that Ihe charges made against the chairman had not been substantiated, si Mr F.. Buchanan seconded the tin of : tion. which was carried. ,i ; Mr Buchanan moved: "That the prii - ' I eipal of this school refrain from taking el I any part, except as returning officer, i.i si, ! connexion with the future election of o- ' board members." l c . ] Mr Maynard seconded Hie m-.tivu, , which was curried o!