HOW THE BOARD OF EDUCATION TREATS A COUNTRY SCHOOL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11576, 14 February 1901, Page 3

HOW THE BOARD OF EDUCATION TREATS A COUNTRY SCHOOL.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir,—The people of Manawaru are very indignant over an order sent by the Board of Education to our head-teacher, Mr. Keaney. The order runs as follows:—"In regard to the overcrowding of the Manawaru school, I am directed by the Board to inform you that you are not to admit any more pupils, and to bring your roll number down to 55. V. E. Rice, secretary." I have seen a good many instances of cool impudence in my time, but this tops the lot. Because the Board blundered in putting up a building utterly insufficient for the district, are we and our children to suffer for it? Is it fair or just that children, living from one-quarter to one mile from Manawaru school, should have to walk to Te Aroha West school, over four miles away? According to the Education Act, parents can be punished for not sending their children to school. Should there not be a punishment for the Board, who orders one of its teachers to refuse to admit children? Indeed, Ido not believe that the Board of Education has any such power. The schools are public, and the refusal to admit children to them opens up a grave question. The action of the Board is a flagrant injustice. It is unjust to the children who have lately come to the district. It is unjust to the School Committee, and it is unjust. to Mr. Keaney, the head-teacher. During the holidays several families have settled in the district, and in a few weeks there are two more families to settle, and then there will be about 20 children of school age in our district, who cannot go to school because the Board says they must not be admitted at our school. "Is not this monstrous? Is it not another instance of the autocracy of the Board? They are only country bumpkins at Manawaru! What does it matter? If any of the town schools wanted a wing, the Board wouldn't say "There's room in another school." Oh, no! The wing is built forthwith. Little children in the country can walk four or five miles to school. It does not matter about them. Since the school commenced after the holidays Mr. Keaney has had to refuse admission to 10 children, and now these poor children are not attending any school. What an injustice! The action of the Board tends to check the progress of Manawaru, as several intending settlers do not like the idea of settling where their children cannot attend the public school. The School Committee intends to oppose the action of the Board, and if it cannot get satisfaction the matter is, I understand, to be taken to a higher tribunal. Now that the annual Board election is coming on, I hope country committees will take note of this last freak of the Board, and vote for those men who will see that justice is done the country schools.—l am, etc., Country Bumpkin.