PUBLICLY EXPELLED

Evening Star, Issue 17922, 18 March 1922, Page 11

PUBLICLY EXPELLED

HEAD MASTER’S ACTION CRITICISED. [Special to the ‘Star.’} * CHRISTCHURCH, March 'PThe recent trouble at Elmwood School arising out of the dismissal of a pW'f for theft was considered at a meeting the Canterbury Education Board to-day'-The following letter was received from 1 the Trades and Labor Council At a meeting of the Canterbury Trades and Labor Council the following resolution was passed ■“ The council urges the Board of Education to dispense with the services of Mr Sinclair, head master of the Elmwood School, because of the dismissal from his school aud the degrading method adopted to a ; child of the tender ago of nine years, j The council is of the opinion that the | said head,master has not kept himself j up to date with the modern knowledge | of child mind, and we think him m- j competent for his position as a trainer of the unfolding minds of children.” Mr John Jamieson : Who do the Trades and Labor Council represent? A Member : Not you or me. Mr Jamieson : What have they to do with the Elmwood School, and what have we to do with the Trades and Labor Council? I move that the letter bo received. Mr E. H. Andrews ; We have absolutely no power to dismiss a master in this way. Tho whole thing is absurd. The motion to receive the letter was carried. Tho Appointments Committee reported as follows : Letters were received from the head master reporting the expulsion of one *pf the pupils owing to theft. It was resolved that in expelling the child iho head master acted within the powers conferred upon him by tho Education ' Act, but that your committee is of opinion that in the interests of a child’s future welfare any form of public expulsion is in such cases to be deprecated. Mr Thompson said the Education Act should be amended, making it necessary for a teacher to secure the sanction of the School Committee before expelling a pupil The report was adopted..

The child referred to had been dismissed and expelled in the presence of the whole school, tho alleged offences being theft and lying. The head master held that this public censure would have an effect for good on tho rest of tho pupils.