Evening Post. THURSDAY, MARCH 2, 1905. EDUCATION BOARDS AND SCHOOL COMMITTEES.

Evening Post, Volume LXIX, Issue 51, 2 March 1905, Page 4

Evening Post. THURSDAY, MARCH 2, 1905. EDUCATION BOARDS AND SCHOOL COMMITTEES.

Tlio frequent friction which is developed by tJic conflicting claims of Education Boards and School Committees constitutes one of the most, apparent weaknesses of our educational system, and in tho interests of harmony and efficiency it is high timo (hat somo remedy was devised. Sometimes tho trouble reaches its climax in cosily litigation; but more commonly it dors not get beyond tho stage of bickering and heart-burning, which, however, may havo very serious consequences. A notable example is the dispute between tho Potono School Committee and tho Wellington Education Board, which culminated last week in tho resignation of tJio whole Committee. It is quite clear to us that, ns tho Board is concerned with the education of a uholo disliict, its authority in tho matter of the appointment, promotion, and dismissal of teachers must bo allowed to provail over that, of the Committee, which is only ekcted by tho local householders to superintend the management of a particular school ; bub tho Boards might well bring to tho exorciso of their supremo power a litllo more tneb nnd consideration, and a little more regard for locnl wishes than they always think fit to dinpiny. Tho Education Act prescribes thnt "the Committee- may recommend teachers to tJie Board for appointment, nnd may also recommmid tho suspension or dismissal of any such teacher ; but no appoint;mcnl, KiMpcnHion, or dismissal tthoil take "place until tho Committee havo been first consulted." Notwithstanding this provision, tlio Boards nro too apt to treat tho powers of consultation as a mere formality. When Drnkn .suninumwl a council of war, it was in order to tell his officers his plan of campaign; and tho School Committees do not always submit to such treatment ns meekly us tho colleagues and lieutenants of Drake. If the provision which wo lmvo quot od from tho Education Art means anything at nil. tho consultntion should btt Boinotliing bettor than a more form. "After tlio receipt of tlio protest of the Coininitteo," said Mr. Justice Williams, in tin Otapo insp, "ita (tho Education Hoard's) plain courso was to lny bo f ore tho Commilteo tho report of tht> special iimppctors and any other ninlcrinls in its possession, nut) ask for the adyiro of tho Coininitteo on tho wholo question. To consult means to nsk ndvico with a viow of obtaining it. If tho Lugislaturo nmkes consultation n condition precedent to netion, it must intend that tho rrnrly whoso duty it i» to seok ndvico should lay beforo his advisors all tho materials which would cnablo the ndvico to be civon." VVo presume thnt those legal formalities wuie duly observed in the prc.wnt case, but wo am not so suro that tho objections of tho Potono Coininitteo wero duly weighed, or that tho Board kept nil open mind till nftor tho process of consultation had been contploted. It is nt nny rnto clonr thnt beforo tho disptitnntß actually mot in Lonfere.nco last wonk, not only had tho mind of tho Bonn! oeon inndo up, but it was nlrcmly committed to netion which, ncrarding to tho opinion of ono of its members nt least., it was under a legal obligation to carry through. The deputation which waited (in tho Board was n very strong ono, and mado out a very strong case, how strong tho caso for tho Board may bo wo nro not in a position to say, as its dotnils havo not received tho sanio publicity. But, Petono is profoundly stirred by tho Board's refusal to reconsider tho claims of tho teacher supported by tho Commit too, anil tho ConitniUco itaolf, which comprised on unusually roprosentutivo and influonlial sot of mun, has, ns wo havo said, resigned in a body. Thn lot of tho candidate improved by the Board will not bo mado oasior by tho opposition which ho has been tho involuntary menus of rnising, and this misfortune, though probably ovanoscent and not vory serious, Is soino indication of tho wisdom of not entirely ignoring local opinion or oven local prejudice in theso inottors. Tho Committee's ronson for resigning is woll put by one of its number in n letter to our Potono contemporary. "It was tho only thing loft for it to do," ho Bays. "If tho function of a School Committee is only to soo that tho school is kept clean nncl to pny tlio caretaker, then tho best thing tho Committees can do is to resign and lot tho Board be its own charwoman." Wo hopo for higher functions for both Boards and Committees in tho happier days that aio to come.