EDUCATIONAL SQUABBLES.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 3333, 7 December 1883, Page 2

EDUCATIONAL SQUABBLES.

At the meeting of the Board of Education yesterday, certain correspondence was read from Pareora, which afforded considerable amusement to those present. Limited time and space precluded our giving more than the bare outcome of the correspondence, but a more detailed account may now be given. It appeared that some considerable time (over twelve months ago) Mr Stewart, the master, and certain committeemen and residents fell out, and at the time there was a good deal of fuss over the matter. It was partially healed over for a time, however, but of late, for several months past, the quarrel has broken out with renewed fury, and matters have not been at all improved by the fact that the school has passed an ex. cellent examination by the Inspector, showing that the master has at any rate done his work well. Three months ago the Committee (or some of them) wrote, making certain charges against the Master, and the Board referred their letter to Mr Stewart. That gentleman replied and his answer was read at the October meeting of the Board. In it he stated that the ill-feeling existed only in the minds of one or two persons, and asked that a meeting of householders might be held to consider the question. The accusers thereupon wrote to the Board a letter (read yesterday) in which they stated at the outset that they were “ surprised that the schoolmaster should write such falsehoods to the Board.” After this designation of the whole of Mr Stewart’s letter, the writers proceeded to say that they had numbered the various paragraphs of the master’s letter and commented upon them seriatim. The comments wore concise for the most part and generally remarkable for Saxon vigour. One was characterised as “ nil false,” another was treated with contempt, for the writers declared it (o bo “a concocted lot of stuff, beneath notice.” This classic designation gave rise to a good deal of amusement on the part of Board members. In support of their communication they sent a circular signed by certain house-holders on their part. The master had hoard of this “Littlo game,” and he too had hawked round a circular which ho also sent to the Board. The Board had now the letter of the Committee men containing the running comments referred to in their circular, and another from the master. Tlio latter circular had the greater number of signatures of parents aud pupils. As bus been already notU fled the Board took no action.