WAI-ITI SCHOOL.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 3128, 12 April 1883, Page 2

WAI-ITI SCHOOL.

MEETING OF HOUSEHOLDERS,

A meeting of householders was held last night in the Wai-iti schoolroom, and was attended by about 25 persons. Mr J. Hole was voted to the chair.

The Chairman opened the proceedings by stating that the meeting had been called for the purpose of reviewing the action of the Committee, in recommending the dismissal of the present mistress. For his own part, he believed nearly everyone in the district was agreed that the lady in question was most estimable and kindly, and the Committee had acted in a very unjustifiable manner. He would be glad to hear those present express their opinions freely.

Mr Townsend asked whether the Committee (of which he saw two members present), would state what complaint they had against the Mistress. Mr Blayden (a member of the Committee) had objected to tbe teacher being an nncertificated one, They thought they ought to have a certificated teacher. One teacher

[The Chairman interrupted that he thought no names ought to be mentioned in the present discussion.] Mr Townsend was decidedly of opinion that names should be mentioned if necessary. He would like to be informed if there were any meetings of Committee’s at which no books or papers were produced and from which the Secretary was absent. If so he considered the proceedings highly irregular. Mr Hawkins (a Committee man) said suoh was actnally the case.

Mr Townsend remarked that there was something very wrong in that way of transacting business. The Committee men were just a self-elected body. One of them had remarked to him only a day or two ago—“ Oh yes, we’re all elected, and we’ve all got billits.’’ The fact was they had pitchforked one another in, and the Chairman had in tarn been pitchforked into his position; and besides, he had a son a pupil teacher in theSchool,which circumstance gave him an interest in the school. A householder asked whether it was true that a Committeeman had said, “Oh ! I shall be away in a fortnight and I’ve no interest in the thing.” Mr Hawkins replied that such was the case.

A householder observed that this was a most unsatisfactory Committee certainly, but the people bad themselves to blame for allowing these men to get in. It was simply this, that cliques spoiled everything. In fact the law was defective, and the dismissal of a teacher should be effected only by a majority of tbe votes of householders. Tbe Chairman said it was useless to try to upset Committees or the law. What they had now to do was to consider and remedy the work committed. Mr Blayuen said he was quite ready to resign, but not unless the others did.

The Chairman said that question should not be brought up now ; the object of this meeting was to hear what had to be said about the mistress.

Mr D. Fyfe said he had several children at the school, and his opinion was that Miss Wilkinson’s work as a teacher was highly satisfactory. As to the certificate which had been insisted upon, it did not, in his opinion, matter whether the lady had a certificate or not, provided she was a good teacher ; but he certainly thought the Board should be informed of the general estimation in which this teacher was held.

A householder—lf there is anything against her, let her accusers come forward like men and state their case. (Applause). Mr Townsend—They are not men enough to come forward, any one of them. Mr Cooper said he had three children under Miss Wilkinson, and he was thoroughly satisfied, and ho neither had, nor had he heard, any complaint against her. Mr Green said he had five children at the school and he was thoroughly satisfied with Miss Wilkinson, but there was one teacher with whom he was very much dissatisfied, and if that young man did not keep within his own bounds he certainly should not put up with it, for he was giving general dissatisfaction. Messrs Fowler and Lack said they did not believe in the pupil teacher at all.

Mr Green said he did not believe in a boy knocking girls about with slates and rulers, especially when such girls were older ones. The Chairman said he believed what had been said about the boy was true. He was the ringleader in all sorts of mischief. He (the Chairman) lived on the adjoining section, and he had often observed that the lad’s conduct well warranted such an expression of opinion as had been given.

Mr D. Fyfe said people had complained to the Committee about the pupil-teacher, and he would ask the members of the Committee present to reply whether or not certain charges had been made against the youth of carelessness and incapacity. Mr Blayden remarked that all those charges had been fully proved before the Committee.

Mr Townsend said the injustice of the Committee was manifest. They had dismissed the mistress against whom there was no charge, while they retained the pupil teacher with whom everyone was dissatisfied. 1

Mr Blayden said when the matter was brought up the Committee wanted the Master to report upon the Mistress, and be himself moved that the pupil teacher’s classes should be examined as well, but tbe chairman and his clique over-ruled this, and kept the pupil teacher free from examination. This looked very bad indeed.

Mr Green remarked that personal prejudice was against the mistress, and he regretted there were no members of the hostile party present. Mr Townsend said one of them at least was dirty enough to hide and listen to the present proceedings. The Chairman believed that as these individual members could not get the lady out by any other means, they had resorted to trying to get her ont on the ground of her having no certificate. Mr Townsend said the pupil teacher was not needed, and was expensive. The master and mistress ought to be able to manage sixty pupils.

Mr Green said there would not be sixty there long, if the mistress were put away. The dismissal of that lady would ruin the school, he felt sure.

A householder asked bow the sixty were divided. Mr Hawkins said the Master took twenty and Miss Wilkinson had forty. Mr Townsend remarked that in that case the mistress got a good half at least of the work, Mr Hawkins said he had told Mr Ogilvie he ought not to sit on the Committee, but he had been ordered to sit down and mind his own business. There had been letters of complaint about the pupil teacher before the Committee, but these had remained unnoticed. The dismissal of the mistress had been carried by 4 to 3, but his amendment for the dismissal of the pupil teacher had been lost, the voting being 3 to 5.

The Chairman observed that the absence of two members betokened that they had nothing to say against Miss Wilkinson.

Mr Townsend said it was apparent that Mr Ogilvie had a down on Miss Wilkinson, and he influenced others. Mr Hamilton was one influenced and he (the speaker) had asked that gentleman what was the matter —and in reply Mr Hamilton had said he “ didn’t know but he had heard this and that!” Was not this a real clique ? A resolution ought to go to the Board, asking them to keep the Mistress and dismiss the pupil teacher. He proposed Board of Education be asked to retain Miss Wilkinson and that the pupil teacher be dismissed.

Mr Fyfe seconded this. Mr Green asked why,if the committee were so anxious to have a certificated teacher, they should have appointed Miss Wilkinson in the first instance, knowing her to be uncertificated.

Mr Hawkins remarked that when the Committee sat in January last, no one knew whether she had gained a certificate or not.

Mr Cooper moved —“ That the action of the Committee in recommending the dismissal of the Mistress is harsh, arbitrary and unjust and that the Education Board be asked to reconsider their decision.” Mr McKenzie seconded this, and on being put it was carried unanimously amid applause. Mr Green said ho desired the meeting to go a step farther. The loose method the Committee had adopted of carrying on their business, their injustice and their generally objectionable behavior ought not to be allowed to continue and he would move — “That this meeting having no confidence in the Committee, the members of that body be asked to resign.” He said this with all respect for the two members who were present, and who had always striven to act fairly. The meetings of the Committee he denounced as most irregular. Correspondence was read or suppressed at pleasure, and everything was loosely carried on. Mr Townsend agreed that things could not possibly be worse if the Committee were out of office.

The motion was duly seconded, and on being put to the meeting was carried nem cm.

The Chairman then remarked that a memorial had been drawn up for presentation to the Board, praying for the retention of Miss Wilkinson’s services, which document he then read.

It was adopted with loud and prolonged applause, and every householder present signed it. Messrs C. N. Cooper and D. Fyfe were then delegated to wait upon the Board of Education with a view to obtaining a reversal of their decision. Votes of thanks to the Chair, and the Press, terminated the proceedings.