CHARGES AGAINST MR. W. J. BROWN, TEACHER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XX, Issue 6811, 15 September 1883, Page 6

CHARGES AGAINST MR. W. J. BROWN, TEACHER.

At the meeting o£ the Board of Education yes- j terday, the Chairman read the following report ' of the City Sch -oli Committee on the charges against Mr. W. J. Brown :—" Re charges by Mr. Worthington against Mr. Brown, second assistant-master in Wellesley-street School. The committee, having taken sach evidence , as was deemed sufficient, first from Mr. Worthington, and secondly from Mr. Brown, is of opinion that Mr. Worthington was fully justified in desiring the removal of Mr. Brown, and this committee, therefore, desire the Board to remove Mr. Brown. The committee, however, with all the facts before them, wo aid recommend the Board to place Mr. Brown at some other school." The Chaihmah eaid that on receiving the letter from the committee he at once came to the conclusion that it placed the Board in a very unsatisfactory position, because it did not say whether the charges were proved or disproved. If Mr. Brown was to be dismissed it naust be for gros? misbehaviour. He had instructed the Secretary to write to the committee, pointing out this fact. The committee replied aa follows:—"September 13. —In answer to your query, I may say that the committee heard Mr. Brown, and obtained from Mr. Brown an acknowledgment that on Tuesday evening, in company with some friends, he drank more than he ought. Mr. Worthington therenponaaked, and obtained leave to withdraw the other charges. The committee considered that Mr, Brown was suffering from the effects of liquor taken the night previously ; that such, together with the certainly unbecoming conduct of some of the boys, so irritated him that he was not master of his words or actions, and during that time said or did certain things that have served to disserer the bond of confidence, between himself and the headmaster, therefore his removal is recommended.—J. Cabr, Chairman of Committee."

The Chairman said Mr. Brown had sent in a medical certificate that he was unfit, on medical grounds, to continue his duties, and be begged for leave of absence. The committee liad suspended Mr. Brown, and it was for the Board to say what final action they should take in the matter. He (Mr. Laishley) had inquired into the history of Mr. Brown. It seemed he had been for six years in the employ of the Board. He had been stationed at Ponsonby. There had always been, he understood, suspicions aa to Mr. Brown—as to whether he drank or not It was decided to give him another chance under Mr. Worthington. Before he went to Wellesley-street School the Inspector told him why he was sent there, and warned him to be careful that the suspicions then current about his being in the habit of taking liqnor might not be fortified. That was how the matter stood.

Mr. Goldie said that Mr. Brown was a total abstainer, or a temperate man, until the Board stationed him at Ohaupo, where he was compelled to live at a pnblichouse, and from that time hia career was not what it ought to be. His successor had had a house built for him. If this had been done for Mr. Brown, he would have been saved from that curse. That was the statement made to him (Mr. Goldie) by the Chairman of the School Committee ia a letter. Mr. -Brown had now joined the Blue Ribbon Army.

Mr. Olaex. said it was a very severe trial for a man to live in a country publichouse.

The Chairman moved, " That the Board having read the charges in this case, acid also the reports of the committee, are satisfied that Mr. Brown has been guilty of gross misbehaviour, and therefore dismiss him from the employ of the Board, and Mr. Brown be piid his salary up to the 31st of August last." The charges were of a very grave character ; they could scarcely be of a graver character so far as the discipline of the school was concerned. The first charge had apparently been proved to the satisfaction of the committee. The next charge had apparently been withdrawn in consequence of Mr. Brown pleading guilty to the first change. He might say incidentally that Mr. Worthington had no power or right to withdraw the other charges. The motion was carried.