CITY SCHOOLS COMMITTEE.

New Zealand Herald, Issue XXI, 15 May 1884, Page 6

CITY SCHOOLS COMMITTEE.

Ah adjourned fortnightly meeting of the committee was held yesterday evening, in the library of the City East aohool. Mr. E. Carr in the chair. Present: Messrs. Hannan, Crowther, and McMasters.

Corporal Punishment in Nelson-street. •—The Chairman said that the committee had agreed to a report, which they had Bent, to the Board of Education, in answer to inquiry made by that body. He laid the following copy of the report on the table :—

Considerations on a complaint made by Mrs. Hicks against Mr. Brabazon, head-masUr of Kelson-street School, on April 10. Mrs. Kicks wrote to the committee complaining that her child was "cruelly" beaten because she was absent from school th* day before. Mrs. Hicks states that she kopt her child at home, and sent an excuse in writing the next day: that her child came homo with her hand braised and swollen, and that on her proceeding to tho sohool to remonstrate, with the head-master, who inflicted the she was subjected to what uhe termed insolence. Mrs. Hicks is evldentally not awaro that tho regulations direct her to apply to the committee and not to the teacher. This is excusable on her part, but the teacher shonld know and ought to have told her. Wo think the complaint of insolence is condoned by the teachor's apology contained in his first letter. Tho Important issuo is the " beating/' This whether •' cruel" or " slight" is ft matter of opinion. The question arises, "la a teacher authorised to beat under such circumstances, and are the commltteo bound to uphold him in so doing ¥' The regulations, page 6. direct teachers -to "enjoin regular attendance," and, page 8, " ail hasty inflictions of corporal punishment aro to bo avoided/' It appears to the committee that a teacher cannot enforco attendance unlesi the compulsory clauses are adopted; .even 1 thon (aoe clause 80) the attend* anco can only be enforced for half the time the sohool is usually open. This determines the untenable defence of the teacher who stales thero was only 49 attendances out of a possible 80 as tho reason why he disregarded tho exouse which, he admits, was sent as stated. We find that the teacher had no warrant under tho Act nor in the regulations or instructions to teachers to beat this child, and deserves censure, for he ought to have known the extent of his autho- ; rity. Wo think his answers to our enquiries unJ beoomlng and discourteous. This committee think tbat It Is unseemly for a male toaoher to beat girls ; th«t suoh action is calculated to brutalise the boyish mind towards the other sex ; and we ask the Board to consider the desirability of framing a regulation to provide some discipline hotter thin beating. We are credibly informed (and believe) that in the Beres-ford-street School, wnere there is good discipline maintained, no girl has been beaten since its formation.

Mr. Brabazon's Reports.—The Chairman said the committeo had drawn attention to the character of Mr. Brabazon's last report. In reply to that representation a letter was reoeived from the Secretary to the Board asking the committee whether they were disßatisfied, and requesting the committee to state the causes.—Several members said they bad visited the Bohool, and considered that its conduot was not equal to that of the other schools. The following letter from Mr. Brabazon to the Chairman of the Board of Education, and forwarded to the committee, was read :—

Nolson-street School. April 20, 1834.—Sir,—As teachers are not allowed to uao tho Press in matters relating to school business, permit me through you to draw the attention of the member who used my name at last Board mooting to the standard returns for the last three years, in which he will find Nelson-street returns. if not the " highest" percentage, at least one of the " highest/' At tho examination last December this school h<d 81 per cent. o( passes— six higher than any of the other city sohools— and this in the face of being compelled to send all children orer age who had made 250 attendances. Where thon ought the dissatisfaction to rest? I am 43 years engaged in teaching, and 1 am not afraid or ashamed of any part of my publio career daring that timo as my testimonials can show. —1 ha?e, &c., J. Bhabazon.

— Mr. Crowther said the real matter in issue was, How many went up ? If only a few went up and the majority passed, that would make a very largo percentage.—, Mr. McMasters : Suppose three went up and two passed, why, there was a percentage greater than any known.—Mr. Crowther said be was dissatisfied, and would Bupport a resolution, ' 1 That, as the committee was comparatively new in office, they would hardly be prepared to answer such a question so sweepingly pnt. This much, however, the committee were prepared to say, that while City East and Bereaford-street had to refuse scholars for the want of room, the Nelson-street School, situated in the -centre and in the most populous part of the distriot, was little more than half-filled,- and some of those going there will shift whenever a chance is available. The conclusion was that the head-master had a great deal to do with such a state of things."—Mr. Hannan, Mr. MoMaaters, and Mr. Shalders, expressed themselves dissatisfied with the management of the sohool.—Mr. Hannan moved, "As this committee is comparatively new in office, they are not prepared to take deoisive action by recommendiog the removal of the head-master, having consideration for his long servioes; yet we are not satisfied with the general management. We judge, by the attendance as oompared with other schools of the district, that the sohool is unpopular. We think that discipline is improperly maintained ; and being aware that many soholars are waiting opportunities of removing, we should not regret to hear of his resignation."—The Chairman seconded the motion, which was carried. Removals.—A letter was received from the Board notifying their intention to remove Mr. Thwaites from Nelson-street to Graftonroad, and Mr. Richard Talbot from Graftonroad to Nelson-street.—Mr. Crowther : I objeot to the removal of Mr. Thwaites from .Nelson-street.—Mr. Hannan : Talbat has been very badly treated. It was the result of religious persecution. He has been persecuted by the Inspector, who has a champion at the Board in Mr. Moss, who is in partnership with Mr. O'Sullivan's son. —Tne Chairman : I think we should deal only with the matter of removing Thwaites. I also think Mr. Talbot baa not been well treated. But he appeared to be a little cantankerous.—Mr. MoMaster said it was unfortunate that Mr. Talbot had been in quarrels in several positions in which he was placed. The whole of the matters relating to Mr. Talbot should be left in the hands of the Board.—Mr. Shalders thought the oommittee should confine themselves entirely to the question of removing Thwaitr a. —Mr. Crowther moved, " The oommittee, in the present state of Nelson-street Sohool, consider it undesirable to remove Mr. Thwaites."—Mr. Hanniiu : I think that Mr. Talbot has been unfairjy treated. There are men on the Board wiio will not do him justioe. I move an amtiudment, " That the matter be deferred." —The amendment was negatived. The resolution o£ Mr. Crowther was carried. .

Fhankuu-boad.— A letter was received from tbe Board of Education, accepting the offer to rent the Primitive Methodist Schoolroom, Franklin-road, for sohool purposes, to be opened for girls only, under the superintendence of Miss VVainn, occupation to be determined by a month's notice on either aide. Vacancy.—The Chairman declared the seat of Mr. Offer at the Board vacant. Petition - .—The petition in favour of the Education Act as at present administered, as against a petition in favour of any denominational privileges was ordered to lie on the table. This ooncluded the business.