AUCKLAND COLLEGE AND GRAMMAR SCHOOL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVIII, Issue 6096, 1 June 1881, Page 6

AUCKLAND COLLEGE AND GRAMMAR SCHOOL.

The regular meeting of the Board of Governors of the Auckland Collegfs and Grammar School was held yesterday forenoon. Present: Mr. J. M. Clark, Mayor of Auckland (in the chair), Colonel Haultain, Rev. C. M. Nelson and Messrs. Fenton and Peacock. The minutes of the last meeting ■were read ar:d conmfired. SEW SITE FOR THE GRAMMAR SCITOOL. A letter was received from the Domain Board, notifying the appointment of a committee to confer with the Governors re the selection of a Grammar School site in the Domain. The Chairman stated that Mr. T. Macffiirlane was of opinion that the site of the old hospital would be as good a one as could be selected, without encroaching on the Domain or allowing the boys to find entrance to it. Colonel Haultain- said he would greatly regret to see the school so near the hospital, as the boys would bo subjected to the risk of contagion. Mr. Fenton , said that the site at the back of Government House, where there was a splendid play-grouud available, was the best that could be selected. Finally, it was agreed to confer with the Domain Board Committee, and it was agreed to interview the members of the General Assembly and House of Representatives to solicit their support to the passing of the requisite Bill. Mr. B. Tanner wrote offering a site of 14 acres at Elleralie for the Grammar School site. The cost would be £1000, and an additional area could be obtained if required. It was agreed, on the motion of. the Mayor, to inform the applicant that the Board was trying to arrange for a site nearer town, but if the present negotiations were not successful the application would be taken into consideration. MIDDAY HOUR. A memorandum was received from the head-master, recommending that during the midwinter months, the midday interval should be reduced to an hour, instead of an hour and a-half. The recommendation was complied with. THE ENGLISH MASTER AND THE HEAD-MASTER.—ACCEPTANCE OF THE HEAD - MASTER'S RESIGNATION.

The following correspoudence was received from the head-master :—

Auckland College ana Grammar School, SOth May, IS3I Sir,—On the 20th the English master intimated to me by a letter, the copy q£ which is enclosed, that he had decided to ask the Hoard to accept his resignation. Tiiis day I received a letter, the cony ot which is also enclosed, informing me that he had changed his mind. There is thus imposed upcil me the unpleasant duty of reporting, for the information of the Board, that from the commencement of his work here the English master has been unable to maintain discipline in his classes, that his failure in this rospect is without parallel in my experience, and that his inability to preserve order and secure the attention of his pupils makes it impossible that he can continue to hold his present appointment with profit to them. Situated as I am, I am not disposed to discuss either tho value of the various " heads" of Mr. GuUiver'3 " protest " or their bearing on the question of his fitness to influence boys. It appears to bo sufficient to say that it would not he difficult to show that the causes of his failure are to be found in himself, and not in his environment. In case it should be thought fit to retain Mr. Gulliver, I would respectfully ask tho Board to relieve me of tho responsibility of the hcadmastership, and desire to intimate that I am prepared, without prejudice, to accept my dismissal forthwith, or at such notios as Hie Board may deter, mine, just as if the notice already given had expired. In making this request, I am strengthened by the knowledge, obtained through tho Press, of the fact that tho Board on tho 2nd of April appeared to recog-> nise the proprioty of granting me six months' leave of absence.—l have, &c, Fa.rquila.ii Macrae.—The Chairman, Board of Governors.

Enclosure No. 1 to letter of 30th May, 1331.— (Copy): Auckland, May 20th, 1831. Sir,—l have tho honour to inform you that I have decided to ask tho Board of Governors to accept my resignation of the appointment I at present hold under them. The official notification of tliU will be placed In the hands of the Chairman of the Board to-morrow.—l have, &c, E. H. Gulliver, Til.a., English Master. F. Macrae, Esq.., Head-master.

Enclosure 3STo. 2 to letter of 30th May, 1831.— (Copy) : Auckland, N.Z., ZSth May, 1831. Sir,— Referring to my letter of 10th instant, I have the honour to stato as follows in continuation. I. I have modified the opinion expressed in that letter, and fail to soe that I am in any way called upon to resign. 11. I am of opinion, with all due deference to your demanded with reference to the arrangements made for Itho English work in the upper school. I make this protest under the following heads:—l. The classes are of a sizo altogether unusual in secondary schools, and unmanageable for individual teaching and supervision. 2.' The difficulties hence arising areaggravated by the unsatisfactory classification of the upper schools, boy 3 being in the same class whoso powers and attainments are widely unequal. 3. There is an unusual absence of the mechanical appliances for promoting discipline and ensuring the satisfactory working of the classes. 1 refer (1) to tho lack of desks and lockers assigned to individual boys, in which their books and slates may be arranged ; (2) to tho insufficient provision made in the class-rooms for writing, whereby much of the English work is seriously impeded, and neatnes3 well nigh impossible. 4. There is an absence of a properly graduated system of text-books in English subjects. It is Collier and Anderson running through one class after another, to the weariness alike of teacher and taught. It is in no spirit of carping criticism that I make this protest. Under other circumstances I should liavo continued to try, as I have hitherto tried, to make the best of things; but I feel now that justice to myself, and a desire to maintain the high reputation which, if I may be allowed to say so, I have hitherto enjoj-ed as a teacher in secondary schools, make it imperative to write as lam now doing. Assistant-masters have their rights as well as their duties: and pre-eminent among the former is the right to expect that there possibility'. In tho case of the English work, that reasonable possibility does not exist. lam fortified in this statement by your own opinion, expressed to mo at the commencement of my work. You then stated that I w«3 in a different position to that occupied by previous English masters, owing to the largely increased numbers coming under my hands ; and you further stated that the work woultl kill me or any other master. —I am, &c, E. 11. Gullivek, M.A. (late scholar of Pembroke College, Cambridge), English Master.

Colonel Haultaix said be was surprised to hear that Mr. Macrae hail this opinion of Mr. Gulliver, for he had heard outside that Mr. Gulliver had afforded extreme satisfaction, and that the bovs—those who were williug and anxious to learn—said that they never had a better master.

Mr. Fenton said he was very sorry' that this question had been brought up now in this shape, when this interregnum existed, and the school was in a trausitiou state. Mr. Gulliver had informed him of his intention to resign, but he informed Mr. Gulliver that his resignation at that juncture would prove inconvenient and embarrassing to the Board, and asked him not to resign. It was no doubt ill consequence of that that Mr. Gulliver's resignation was withdrawn. It appeared to him that the head-master's letter was not worded as it ought to have been. The Mayor said that lie could not agree with Mr. Fenton. The head-master's letter contained no threat. At a previous meeting the question was discussed to give the headmaster six months' leave of absence, and he now expressed his desire to accept that proposal.

Mr. Fenton : Bnt he puts in those curious words " without prejudice," the meaning of which we do not understand.

Tho Mayor said there was no use shirking their responsibilities in the position. Mr. Macrae got notice of dismissal, and knew he had to go. The others had notice but may be taken on again. Mr. Macrae now wishes to be let go, and wishes the Board to carry out what was then suggested.

Mr. Peacock said they ought to consider and give full weight to the opinion of the head-master as to the other masters. The Board was in a difficult position. On the one hand they should consider the recommendation of the head-master actuated by a feeling for the good of the school, and they should look at that regardless of the fact

that the head-master had received notice of dismissal. Unless they were prepared to say that the head-master was not able to maintain discipline, or that he was not able to judge of other masters, his recommendation should receive full weight. Colonel Haultaik said Mr. Gulliver had already received six months' notice, and it remained with the Board whether at the expiration of that notice he should be retained. No doubt Mr. Macrae's position was a very painful one, aud iu his (Colonel Haultain's) opinion he was now taking the most satisfactory course in asking to be relieved at once.

Mr. Peacock said they must not overlook the fact th.it the head-master urged that for the good of the school, Mr. Gulliver's connection with the school should oeasc at once. What was involved in the letter was the immediate termination of 3SIr. Gulliver's services, and, failing that, the head-master asked to bo relieved of his duties himself.

Mr. Fextox sakl it was to him a matter of great regret that this question hail been raised in the present transition state o£ the school. The language of the letter was not to his mind what it should have been, nor such as any one in the Civil Service would use to his superior. They all felt that this was not the time for either dismissals or removals, and if they saw their way to put this letter to one" side they would do so. But then it contained the clause that if the Board did not discharge Mr. Gulliver, the head-master would go himself. He though they should refer the letter back to the head master, asking him to expunge that clause. Mr. I'EnCOCK said he had no doubt the head-master was actuated by motives in the best interests of the school.

Colonel Haultaix said it was absurd to suppose that the efficiency of the school would suffer by allowing Mr. Gulliver to remain to the end of the period for which he had received notice.

The Mayor said that at present two courses had been suggested, one of which was that they should not dismiss Mr. Gulliver, and the other that they might ask the headmaster to withdraw that clause in his letter. He would prefer that they should accept the alternative, and allow Mr. Macrae to go. The circumstances were exceptional. Mr. Macrae was virtually dismissed, and, according to his idea, ho had been dismissed without a fair trial. He knew from the newspaper reports that the question had been under consideration to give him six months' salary, and allow him to go. He (Mr. Clark) thought it the best arrangement that could be made.

Colonel Hajjltain said he would vote in favour of that, and he further thought that Mr. Macrae should receive something more than six months' salary, on account of hia lone and faithful services.

Mr. Fenton said his judgment went with Mr. Clark, and he also concurred with Colonel Hatiltain that Mr. Macrae should have something more than six months' salary in consideration of the terms of the original arrangement under which he was engaged and his long services. Finally, Mr. I'eacocic moved, " That the Board, in view of the fact that all the masters are under notice of dismissal, regrets that it cannot see its way to shorten the notice to the Rev. Mr. Gulliver, but recognising the difficult position of the headmaster, release him from .further attendance at the school, without implying any censure on, or going into the merits of, his letter; aud, further, that he be granted salary up to the termination of the period of notice, and a gratuity of £350 in consideration of his long and faithful services." Colonjl Hauxtain seeonded the motion. Mr. Nelson objected to the word " regret" in connection with the dismissal of Mr. Gulliver. The Mayor said he thought the whole of that portion of the motion might be omitted, as further on it stated they did not go into the merits of the question. Mr. Fenton said he quite concurred in this view. Mr. Peacock said he would strike out the word "regret." Mr. Nelson still objected to the first part of the motion, and Mr. Clark again suggested that the first part of the motion should be omitted. Finally,-Mr. Peacock moved the resolution as it stood. The Chairman moved, as an amendment, "That the first part of the resolution be omitted, and that it stand as follows :— ' That the Board having read the headmaster's letter of the 2Sth ultimo, and the enclosures, resolved—that recognising the difficult position of the head-master in the present circumstances iu which he and the other masters are .placed, release him from further attendance at the school, &c."— The afnen.dm.ont was put aud carried, Mr. Peacock voting against it. ; TEMPORARY ITEAD-MASTER. Colonel Haultain asked who was to take charge of the school ? Mr. Fexton' thought the master next in rank should do so. Mr. Peacock thought a committee should bo appointed to confer with the head-master, aud obtain his suggestions. He moved "that a committee consisting of the Chairman, the Mayor, aud Colonel Haultain make arrangements for the temporary management of the school." Mr, Fentcn moved as an amendment, "That Mr.fSloman be asked to take temporary charge of the school." Colonel Haultain seconded the amendment, and suggested to the mover to add to it, "That Mr. Sloman be allowed an additional salary at the rate of £200 a-.year during the time he was so acting." Mr. Fenton adopted the suggestion, and incorporated it with his amendment, and in this form it was carried, Mr. Peacock voting in the negative. ADDITIONAL MASTER. Colonel Haut/tain said they would require an additional master at once. They were losing one master, and the classes were already too large. It was agreed, on the motion of Mr. Peacock, "That the.Chairman, the Mayor, and Colonel Haultain, be appointed a committee to arrange for temporary assistance." ACCOUNTS. Current accounts were passed for payment. Colonel Haultain said the committee had not passed the shorthand writer's account in the recent investigation. It was a large amount, £142 10s, and they desired to refer it to the Board. He suggested that: it be referred to the Mayor and Mr. Peace ck to inquire into. The Mayor said there was a definite arrangement with the shorthand writer as to charge for attendance and charge for transcript of his notes. All that was to be inquired into was whether there was the number of folios. Colonel Haultain accepted the explanation, and the account was passed for payment, the Secretary to check the folios. This was all the business, and the meeting then terminated.