BOYS' HIGH SCHOOL.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXII, Issue 7548, 23 September 1886, Page 2

BOYS' HIGH SCHOOL.

Sin,— lt is to be hoped that Iho dismissal of Mr Kiiox from his position as iwsislimt tcachor in tho Boys' High School

will not lie allowed to pass without a .very strong protest being entered by tho public at the very peculiar action of the Board of Governors in condemning a man unheard. So far the charges laid against Mr Knox seem to be of a most trivial nature, and thinking people cannot fail to observe evident signs of animus on the part of the accuser. In the report of tho Board's meeting on Friday last the following words occur:-— "The chairman in looking over the diaries of the work of the se/wol {the italics are mine) said there had been complaints made against Mr Knpx, some having reference to his not being able to keep his class in order, and allow- . ing the boys to play tricks." Now, sir. if a nian is to be judged, and dondemneu .unheard ,dii thpj crimes, lid , may. mnUo for his. own guidances ; in his diary U at once : oilers ii,, distinct '.premium tjj dishonesty, for no orie i is Hlfejy to make entries which might .dnnuriato. himself. ..As I understand .it, tJiesp diaries are 1 kept by tb,e vayioua,,riias: ters for the purpose of .: gauging .jtho progress of. the .pupils,,. and if saifj-w' q. most iniquitous tliing- to judge any :ojhcer • on the entries, fquiul in them. *' .With; ret t : gard to tlie 'other two charges, ' anyone wlio has any knowledge whatever of boys - must know How difficult, .nay, how utterly impossible, it is to .keep them,!' in order, ! and anyone who .is nundeoV tq play-iEaui Pry at any of the best schools 1 either in : England or the colonies will i'md that the boys of to-day are very much like tlie boys' of 30 or 40 years ago in their "playing tricks." I, in common with a good many more, think that in this matter a full and open inquiry should be, made, not only with re^'gnrd to tlie particular case in question, / but with reference to the whole institution. '■ This for several reasons. First, because" it is a privilege of our constitution that every man has a right to be heard iii his" own. dofence,; this right, has. .not .been accorded to Air Knox. Secondly, because' thepublic have,a : right to know.>hy. the, services of v its. officers are dispensed with. . And lastly, ari enquiry into the, general state of affairs' connected with the usslitii-- ', turn is needed_ for reasons which;are'obyi- , 'Ous to many in this ; town whohayecliiK !dren receiving instruction there.. '.".'■' ' ' .'. ' : I must not take .up too much of, your,, t valuable, space with this letter; : but wilh revert to 'the subject again 'with your per- ' mission. In^ tlio . meantime • allow „mctj to express a hope' that tho matter will bo vigorously taken up by all Idve'rs of- • ' . • -Fair 1 Play."