SUMNER SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XCVII, Issue 11226, 25 March 1897, Page 3

SUMNER SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

MEETING- OF HOUSEHOLDERS. A largely attended meeting of the householders of Sumner was held last night, to consider the action of the School Committee in calling upon the head-master to resign. When the meeting opened Mr Bamford said that, whilst wishing to cast no disrespect upon Mr Deacon, the Mayor of the borough, he thought that it would be bettor for all concerned if an independent gentleman occupied the chair. Mr Deacon claimed his right as Mayor to act as chairman at a public meeting such as the present, and Mr Bamford, waiving his objection, the Mayor took the chair.

The Chairman said that all resolutions carried would be duly forwarded to the School Committee. He said that he intended to have order preserved, and if anyone uttered rude or impertinent remarks that person would be expelled from the hall. Mr Eollitfc. said that the School Committee had acted in a harsh and drastic manner towards the master in asking him to resign at seven days’ notice. It had been stated that no good work had been done in the school since 1891. If the committee had taken steps to ascertain the facts of the case they would have found otherwise. The Education Board’s report proved that in March, 1891, the average of passes was 33 3 ; in December, 1891, 34*38; in April, 1893, 43'4; in April, 1894,40; in December, 1895, 47*94; in December, 1896, 40*47. These figures, ho contended, showed a decided improvement. He was sorry to notice that a great deal of personal feeling had been imported into the question. The Mayor had said that several of the names on the petition in favour of the reinstatement of the master had been* obtained by false representation. He had made inquiries on this subject and found that such was not the case, and he called upon the Mayor to retract his accusation. He thought that the present School Committee should have left the matter to-the incoming committee. The master might have shown the committee some discourtesy, but was, on the other hand, considerably bullied and worried by that body. He (Mr Rollitt) only asked for fair play and consideration for the feelings of the ratepayers as expressed by the largely-signed petition. Mr Nich oils wished to know whether the Committee or the Board of Education had recommended the dismissal of the master.

Mr Hill, the secretary of the committee, read a letter from the Board, dated Jan. 14, 1897, stating that no good -work had been done in the school—excepting with regard to mechanical subjects—and asking the committee if it was not time to put a stop to such an unsatisfactory state of things. Another letter from the Board was read, under date April 12, 1893, which reported that the work of the school was satisfactory, and a letter from the committee to the Board, dated March 17, 1897, was produced, asking for an explanation of the apparently contradictory reports. The Board’s answer virtually stated that in its opinion the only satisfactory work done had been in Standard IL, which was under the care of the mistress. Miss Budden, the scholars in which had also had the previous advantage of her preparation in Standard I. , . . ~, Mr Morton asked the Chairman whether the Board had given any power to the committee to dismiss the master. The Mayor replied: Certainly not. (Cries of oh, oh, oh!) The Mayor said that he wished to inform the “hoodlums ”in the hall that they must behave themselves. Messrs Eollitt and Morton instantly demanded an apology from the Mayor for his expression, and it was given at once. The Mayor said that he was somewhat astounded at the Board’s letters, and considered that they would permanently injure the master in his future prospects. He had, therefore, endeavoured to persuade the master to resign, but without avail. The meeting here became somewhat lively, the feeling evidently being against the committee, and after a good deal of bickering the Mayor left the chair and threatened to have the lights extinguished unless better order prevailed. Finally, it was resolved upon the motion of Mr Eollitt, seconded by Mr Ekins, “ That the committee bo requested to reconsider its decision and to reinstate the master, or else to instantly resign, and that the resolution be conveyed to the School Committee and to the Board of Education.” ..