Education Board Elections.

Otago Witness, Issue 1981, 11 February 1892, Page 32

Education Board Elections.

TO THE EDITOB.

Sir, — It is a pity that country school committees and school committees generally do not consider the advisability of making a change in the constitution of tho Otago Education Board from time to time as the elections come round. In any public body continuous membership is not always the best, and in every democratic community the tendency is in favour of making public offices rolling ones. Very grave suspicions have gone abroad that the continuous members of the board and some of the officials have pretty well ruled the roost in the past, and in order to allay this feeling the school committees would do well to return some of the new candidates in the field. It is a notable fact that our Education Board does not contain among its members anyone who has had practical experience as a teacher. This probably accounts for the too frequently strained relations between the board officials, the teachers, and the school committees. One or two exteachers on the board would be able to put the other members right on those matters affecting the teachers, and, understanding also the inner working of the schools, they would be more likely to get on with the committees. There are two teacher candidates in the field, and I hope to see them returned.- lam not personally acquainted with Mr Reid, hut know him to be an estimable man. Mr Neill I do, however, know well, and I know him to be a thoroughly public-spirited man, and one who has always taken a lively interest in the welfare of every community amongst whom he has been settled. As I feel certain that ho would be an acquisition to the board, I hope his candidature will be favourably considered by the school committees. — 1 am, &c,

February 9.

F. A. Ji