APPOINTMENT OE TEACHERS.

Otago Witness, Issue 1950, 4 April 1889, Page 16

APPOINTMENT OE TEACHERS.

At the annual meeting of the Dunedin School Committees' conference, held on Tuesday night, the question of the appointment of school teachers was considered. Mr Wilkinson said he should like to hear an expression of opinion from the conference on the action of the Education Board. He looked upon the action of the board in thus reducing the number of names to be submitted as eligible candidates as a positive insult to the intelligence of school committees. The whole matter seemed to him an attempt on the part of the board to "sit upon " school committees, and to render the functions that they were called upon to perform altogether of a menkl nature. He would move — " That this conference views with regret the 'action of the board in resolving to limit the choice of school committees in the matter of the appointment of teachers." Mr Isaac seconded the motion. He thought the board had acted in a very high-handed way in this matter, but he noticed that they were not strictly adhering to their resolution. In one country school the committee resisted the board forcibly, and the board had to give in. They also in the case of two other schools send down more than three names to the school committees; so that it was evident that they were virtually retracing their steps. He, however, thought that the conference should ask the board to rescind the resolution they had already passed with regard to the appointment of teachers. He hoped that there would be so strong an expression of feeling that the board would see it was desirable to retrace their steps. . The members were elected by the 'committees alone, and if they showed a desire to sit on them (the committees) altogether, it would be wise for all the committees to sign a requisition calling upon them to resign. Mr Hogg said that- conference had no power. They did not represent the sohool committees on the subject/ as the other members might differ rom them. Why not therefore postpone this matter also, until they ascertained the opinion of their committes ? Mr Macgbbgob thought it would be as well for the conference to recommend committees to keep an eye in future upon those members of the board who were trying to sit upon the committees, and remember them when they can*

vasjsed for re-election. The committees .were i iho representatives of the people, and the board was elected by them; so if they had not; the 1 matter in their own hands, they themselves were to blame. - , - .. - . ', K > Mr Wilson thought what had been done showed only that the board wanted to make the work easy for committees. They wereJn a position to know, more about these mattets than the cbrnmifrfeee, and if all jealous feeling, were thrown aside, it would be seen that the step the board had .taken was. not so, serious after all. Mr Hendhbson spoke of a casein which a new district had appointed^ an individual.'on the recommendation of the board, and : found ;they had been recommended a drunken, 1 ne'er-do-well blackguard. He could not understand how any member of a committee could -aub'mitto such dictation from the board. As Mr Isaac had* said, there would be nothing for the committees to do but to look after the cleaning, and he for one would never go back upon a committee 'to be under men of the stamp of members' of the board. > ' ' . „ '•.'-*. Mr Riddib thought the method: by which teachers were chosen was not a right one. There should be a way by which. when a vacancy occurred the next) best man stepped into it honestly. At present the teachers were 'selected from their certificates > and the reports, and the board itself could not select them any other way. ■; ' -' -„' . ;■■•! Mr Dodds thought the best plan would be for committees simply to decline to recommend any of the names sent down and askf for more. > Mr A. Btjrt thought some change-was needed in the selection of teachers, but held also' that the inspectors were the proper officials to guide in the matter. No one else had their special knowledge of the needs of the different schools , and the qualifications of the candidates. Three names were, he considered, not enough' for the board to send down, but all names sent should be eligible, and the board should be prepared, even on the casting vote of the chairman, to appoint the man recommended. : Mr M'Laeen suggested that Mr Burfc should move a resolution upon the snbjeot. .- Mr Pbice said he quite agreed with what Mr Burt had said. He thought the appointment of teachers was often a matter of favour. Influence was brought to bear upon committees, and in some cases the candidate that was most' suitable was not appointed. . . . < ■•>■ Mr Isaac pointed' out that the same, thing applied to the board. , Mr Pbich said that the inspectors reported to the board, and they knew who were the ibest teachers to appoint. . „ '• : Mr Isaac : That does . not prevent jheir friends from "buttonholing" the board. ..They are just as much "buttonholed" a's committees. After some further discussion, the motion was carried by nine votes to five. : . The London correspondent of the Liverpool Post hears a strange rumour with respect to what is known as the Babbicombe murder. "The tragedy took place on November 14, -1884', the victim being one Miss Emma Whifcebead Keyes, a lady of private means, 08 years of age, who | resided at The Glen, Babbicombe. Suspicion | promptly turned upon Lee, -who was a page in I her employ, but who stoutly affirmed his innocence. He was, however, found guilty, and sentenced to death. He was to have been hanged on February 23,1885, when there followed a tragedy rivalling in ghastly interest even the murder of Miss Keyes. Thrice the condemned, pinioned, and blindfolded man stood upon the trap, listening to the chaplain reciting the burial service. Thrice the hangman tried to make the machine work, and thrice Lee was removed, being finally conducted to the cell out of which, on the stroke of Bo'olook, he had been led to what seemed certain death. In consideration of what he had passed through in the 20 minutes he had stood under the shadow of the gallows, Sir. .William Harconrt, then Home Secretary respited him, Lee protesting that in this - unprecedented occurrence the hand of God had moved to prevent an innocent man from -being slain. The correspondent now hears a rep'prt that,a-death-bed confession has entirely established Lee's innocence, and indicated, the. murderer in another quarter. " -