PUBLIC OPINION.

Patea Mail, 16 March 1882, Page 3

PUBLIC OPINION.

Contributions, Letters, Inquiries and Answers thereto, are invited on Fanning, Commerce, Politics, and matters of interest to the Patea district. Names of writers need not be Printed.

EDUCATION GRIEVANCE AT MANUTAHI. Education matters are the chief subject of conversation here at present. It appears that after the last school examination, the School Committee considered it their duty to apply to the Education Board for a certificated male teacher. This appears to have aroused a few friends of the present female teacher to take a fresh interest in school matters. The consequence was that at the election of the new Committee, four were elected who have no children attending school. The Committee’s first action was to write to the Board to take no steps in appointing a male teacher till the Committee had con-

sidered the question. At the next meeting of Committee, a petition was presented signed hy nine parents, representing 25 children attending the school, asking the Committee to make an application to the Board for a certificated male teacher, as the number attending school (36 on the books) justified the application. The Committtee called a meeting of householders last Saturday evening to discuss the question of applying for a new teacher. About 14 householders attended, seven of whom had signed the petition. It was stated that the present teacher had obtained the situation by representing that she was prepared to pass any examination that was necessary ; that she had failed to do so, and therefore was not entitled to hold the situation. It was also mentioned that at the present rate of progress some of the children are making, they will be 24 years of age before they can pass the 6th standard. The principal speaker in favor of retaining the teacher was a resident who has no family ; but, according to his own estimation, he is qualified to judge that the present teacher is quite goed enough for the children of Manutahi. Another advocate for retaining the teacher was a late arrival in the district. He stated that he was satisfied with having to send his eldest child to Kakaramea; that one of those he was sending to the school he did not wish to learn, as she was too far advanced for her age ; and that the other child only required a nurse. He considered the teacher good enough for them. After two hours’ discussion, the meeting broke up without coming to any decision. In this state of things, what ought we parents to do ? . A Parent.