SCHOOL COMMITTEES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 4011, 24 December 1874, Page 6 (Supplement)

SCHOOL COMMITTEES.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir—ln your report of the last meeting of the Education Board there is a long letter or report from the Secretary, upholding the system of management of schools uy local committees,- and especially the appointment of teachers. He Btates that the letters which appear; in the papers complaining of School Committees emanate from disappointed candidates. 1 bog to assure him that so far as the Daily 'limes s lettors are concerned, he is entirely mistaken. Ho defends tho powers given to local committees to elect teachers. Whore can there be a stronger argument against him than his own statcmont that thoy apply to him for advice? The teacher is thus appointed sub rosa. In other words, committees admit by this very act their own incompetence, and his irresponsible mlvtee is taken. He al3o admits that committees should be prohibited from deducting from the school fees. Can anything be clearer—that men who will reduce the miserable salary of our teachers to repair and cleau schools, and, in some cases, to give picnics and prizes, are incompetent to conduct the education of the couutry. Will Mr Hislop publish the list of all teachers who have left the profession, or were compelled to resign, for tho past five years? This list would show either that great tyranny has been used, or that our teachers are a most depraved set of men. I hope the next Provincial Council will seek for information from the teachers themselves on this subject, and place us at least on an equal footing with tho police, who are bitter paid, whoso situations are more secure, and whose chances of promotion are much greater than ouis. There are no doubts of Mr Hislop's energy and ability, but I fear that he looks on the Otago school system in locopanntis and it i3 natural he should do so. But 1 beg co remind him that we have no data for the assertion that our schools are equal to those of Victoria or America. It will bo found that they are not. Our New Zealand University examinations for scholarships show more than the failure of the liign School. Good teachers,- holding certificates o'f world-wide acceptance, will not submit to vulgar local dictation and interference Victoria' win lowed into its present q-steni from the loss of its best schoolmasters. The committee system is bringing about here, as it did there and in San Francisco, the same result. Tho matter is 'yeiy plain. Educated men would seldom attend a coimniiteo meeting to hear tho uneducated discuss school matters. The mothers became in reality the acting power. Democratic government is very well, where the matter is understood, and directly affects tho pocket; but not otherwise. Giving power to do what none or few of a committee understand, is pure nonsense; and taking the advice or, dictum of any inspector on the quaiilications, &c, of teachers is much worse. It gives him an irresponsible power, which no ono individual should be allowed to wield. Is it any wonder, taking Mr Hislop's report as the data, that teachers are dissatisfied and that thorp exists a general feeling of insecurity ? The Connor affair make3 it stronger. Suppose the case reversed, and the rev. secretary got the casting vote for his son, would the Education Board be advised to use their power, or would they do so V 11 ow many cases are on record of tho Board vetoing an election in spite of the committee? I think none. Did they do so in the case of the North-east Valley School, some years ago? It is very stranffo that rio other public servant is olected by the pooplo. ' The very man who, to do his work properly, should ignore all outside local feeling ; tho very discipline of who>o sjhool must, in tlio nnjoriiy of cases, be a revolution on the rule of the family; the pet must get no more consideration than tho neglected; is entirely subservient to mothers, to petty family feeling and local gossip. The very children know that every annual oKctiou is matter of vital importance to him. This is a pretty position in which to place an educated man. The teacher iipjiointed to this Clifton school will bs in Paradise, in conclusion, the whole case speaks for itself. A locality where any one man, no matter what ho is, can even got lull" a committee to vote for an inexporienced man against a trained and well-known teacher, is surely unlit to have such a power placed in its hands. They must havo been aware tint no Education Board of respectable standing recognises University certilicatos or even degrees, as evidence o£ fitness to teach. And I also beg to assure Mr Hislop that I am neither a disappointed candidate, nor do I quarrel with my school committee; but, like the majority of my brethren, I fool utterly disgusted with the airs of the publicans, bakers, and tailors, that form the majority of my school committee, •.'■•••-'• a Tuaciier.