" RAGGING"

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 52, 29 August 1913, Page 11

" RAGGING"

AT PETONE PUBLIC SCHOOL LAD ROUGHLY HANDLED, SCHOOL COMMITTEE'S ENQUIRY. It is alleged by aome parents of pupils attending the Main Public School at Petone that their boy's have been Bubjected to a system of "ragging" by their class-mates, the lads in question having in two cases been severely handled. Complaints to this effect were made at a meeting of the School Committee last Thursday, and as a result a special meeting of the committee was held last night to enquire into the cases and obtain from the teachers concerned statements as to what they knew of the matter. There was a full attendance of the committee, Mr. D. M'Kerizie (chairman) presiding. There were also present Mr. W. Foster, headmaster of the school, and the schoolmaster, as the result of whose remarks the "ragging" was in one case alleged to have taken place. In making a statement of the case, Mr. Foster remarked at the outset that he wished to enter a protest as to j the refusal of the secretary (Mr. H. R. Kirk) to /supply him with the copies of the complaints to be investigated. Twice he had written asking to be supplied with the information, and each time he had received evasive replies. This was most unfair. - In fairness to the other teacher who had been asked to attehd he (Mr. Foster) had instructed that teacher, who was entirely ignorant as to why he should attend, not to be present, and it was for that reason that he warn not there that evening. In ! this protest he was supported by Mr. Townsend. In answer, Mr. M'Kenzie stated that the committee was quite within its rights in what it had done. There was something going on at the school that should not go on, and the committee accordingly had a right to investigate. Before going into the cases, it was decided to withhold from publication the names of the teachers concerned. In assuring the committee that there was only one case of "ragging" that he knew of, Mr. Foster asked if the committee intended going into any other alleged case besides this one? Mr. M'Kenzie: We will not go into any specific case, but into the matter in general. Mr. Foster: Well, if that's sd, I decline to go into the matter. After mote discussion, however, Mr. Foster continued. The caee, ,he stated, was that of two lada discovered during school hours outside piaying marblee. They had been brought back to the class by the master, and there the master had said : "What do you think you deserve, do you deserve to'be caned or to be handed over to the tender mercies of the class?" As the result of the remark made, one boy had been drastically treated by hi 6 school fellows. The master admitted that his woras had been foolish and regretted it, and in no way expected his words to be taken up by the class as they weTe. A letter had been received from the parent of the child about the matter, and » reply stating that the caee/ had happened and apologising for it was sent. The boys concerned in the affair had been told of the serious results of their action, and had expressed sorrow for it, while the teacher had been admonished. He (Mr. Foster) had thought the incident concluded when he received a final letter from Mr M 'Donald, father of the lad, stating that he fully recognised that the incident was one that could not be foreseen, and that the main blame lay with the thoughtlessness of the teacher. The Writer thanked him for dealing with the matter as he had done. The teacher concerned, in explanation, stated that he had not the slightest idea that the words, which were intended to appeal to the lad's manliness, would be taken up as they were. He admitted it was a foolish remark, and regretted it. At the conclusion of the evidence, Mr. M 'Donald rose and stated that he fully recognised that Mr. Foster had done everything he could under the circumstances, and had met the caee fairly and equarely. ANOTHER CASE. As to the other case in which it was rfleged that another lad had been "handed over" to the class to be ducked, Mr. Foster stated there was not a tittle of truth in the statement. The case alluded to was one of common "ducking" of a boy by his own school fellows becauee the boy by hi* absence had precluded his class mates from & short holiday which was the reward at the school for a. certain percentagb of good attendances. The "ducking" had no possible connection with the teacher of the class. The boys concerned in the "ducking" had admitted that it wa£ not done at the direction of the teacher. Mr. M'Kenzie remarked that the "ducking" should not have occurred, and in answer Mr. Foster remarked that if the committee were going to enquire into every case of "ducking" at the school it would have a very busy time. "The boys thought the whole case a joke, and 80 did I," stated Mr. Foster. Mr. M'Kenzie made some remarks to which Mr. Foster objected. "You doubt my word," stated Mr. Foster, "and I refuse to answer any more questions." Mr. M'Kenzie: Very well, we have our own opinions. " . "BULLYING RIFE." According to statements made by some members, of the committee "bullying" was pretty rife at the school at present, and there were plenty of complaints from parents in this respect. Cases of alleged pricking with pms on the end of sticks, of knocking pupils about during drill were mentioned, while the Chairman read a letter in which it was alleged a boy had left school owing to being kicked by the lad in charge at drill. * In answer, the headmaster stated that bullying was put down firmly at the school, and in the few cases that had come under his notice h© had caned the offenders. As to the latter case, he had a written statement to the effect that the boy in question had left school as his parents had shifted hearer the West School, at which place he was attending now. "I protest against these state-., ments," stated Mr. Foster, "and from the evident tone of the committee you want boys brought up in a nambypamby fashion." The enquiry was at length concluded, and after- Mr. Foster and the teacher had withdrawn. Mr. ToWnsend moved as follows :— "That, after having inves tigated the cases of alleged ragging, the committee is of opinion that the cases referred to have happened without the knowledge of the teachers or headmaster " Mr. M'Dortald seconded the motion, which was lost, however, Mr. List being the only one who voted with the mover and seconder. After further discussion, 'Mr. Wright moved : "That, after having investigated the case of alleged 'ragging,' this committee is of the opinion that the headmaster and staff gave no sanction to it, and the committee considers the teacher in question acted indiscreetly. " The motion was carried unanimously.