AN EDUCATIONAL SCANDAL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11454, 20 June 1899, Page 7

AN EDUCATIONAL SCANDAL.

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Som6'time ago tiio Wanganui Education Board appointed a special committee tq investigate certain irregularities lhat were alleged to have been committed by a.Mr S. C. Hall during his term of office as head master of the Greatford School.

Briefly put, the charges were tliat the master had garbled the inspector's examination aud inspection reports in such a manner as to entirely alter their meaning; that he had issued pass certificates to children who had failed; that he had falsified the registers of the school by representing it to have been open on dates .when it was closed; and that he had marked children as being in attendance who had really been absent.

The committee, after hearing a great deal of' evidence, ' came' to the conclusion that the. whole of the allegations were true. They found, for instance, that in the 1895 report three alterations had been made— 'namely, in the sentence "in many cases very, bare passes,"' the word "bare" was altered, to "fair"; "reading very poor"* was altered to "fair"; and "spelling very poor," was altered, to "fair." Further confirmation of malpractice was discovered ,in copies of testimonials and mutilated reports sent to-the Hawke's Bay Education 'Board when applying for a teaehership. So far as the charges wilh-reference to issuing bogus certificates and falsifying the register were concerned, their truth was nol questioned by Mr Hall. In his statement of- defence, he says that the,issue of the certificates was au act of carelessness,- but of carelessness only. The mock reports were denied by him ever lo have been used for improper purposes. He explained to the committee that they had been altered with a view to 'using them in the production of a farce, " The Rival Inspee.tors," which he had been writing .for. a .school entertainment. Mr .Hall,- after' elaborating on this point, went ,on to say: ."Lastly, this charge is one that involves !*a nature given to acts of despicable_mean,ness and trickery; and as I can confidently say, -in direct conflict with my whole character and history. If J[ have failed to attain any distinction for teaching ability, ;I have ever endeavoured to live as an 'honourable and God-tearing man should' Jive; .and, in the main, by God's grace,. I have so lived. And now, although -I- am 'not given lightly to make strong assertions, still, in this case, and reading over carefully all1 that I have written, and bearing in mind all that I have orally declared on this matter, I lay my hand on the Scriptures as I write, and solemnly declare that all I halve written, all that 'l have" orally declared, I believe to be the. truth, the whole truth, and nothing but' the truth, so help me God."

The committee refused to believe the ex-teacher? and, in reporting to t*he board, 'remarked:—"ln our opinion the .false certificates were issued for the purpose of deceiving the' parents of the children, the reports have been altered or re-written for t the purpose of deceiving the committee ',cind parents, and the falsification of.registers, which would increase the teacher's salary, has been proved. We would re-, .commend that a copy of this report be sent to the Minister for Education." , This was i agreed to, and further developments may ..be looked- for. ".' \ .