KAUAERANGA SCHOOL ENQUIRY.

Thames Advertiser, Volume XXV, Issue 7171, 11 March 1892, Page 2

KAUAERANGA SCHOOL ENQUIRY.

ANOTHER MEETING.

Mβ PHILLIPS, ASKED TO ATTEND,

'DEOHNK\

AIL CORRESPONDENCE TO BE SENT TO THE BJARI) OF EDUCATION.

In consequenoe of certiin didosuree made at the recent meeting of the Kauamcga School Committee regardiog the laxity of isoipline and want of proper sapervieion and control at the Boys' School, the committee met again last night to farther inves igate the charges made by air J. Watson. There wero preeent, Messrs Scott (chaiiraan), Hammond, Catran. Paull, Hatttay, McDonald, and Whitehead, The Chairman sta'ed that another special meeting had been called for that evening to further consider the disclosures made at the last enquiry. A letier had been so it to Mr Horatio Phillips, headmaster of the school, asking him to be present a the meeting, with a view to answering any questions referring to the ohargee that the committee should think fit to put, but he (Mr Scot!) had to s'ate that io reply Mr Phillips had declined 'o attend, and the letter would be placed before the committee in due oourse. Mr Scott then aeked the Secretary (Mr Whitohouee) to read the minutes of the last meeting. This wae done and the minutes confirmed, after which the Chair man pointed out that it was necessary to go further inlo the caie, and with that cbjeot in vie* a letter had boon sent 10 Mr Phillips ashing him to be praeent at their meeting. ■ Mr Scott then asked Mr Whitehouse to read the letter sent to Mr Phillips; il was as follows:

Horatio Phillips, Esij. Sir,—lt is nooessary that the committee Bliould still farther investigate in reference to the recent charges made against the Boys' School of laxity of discipline and want of proper supervision and control. i r ou ire, therefore, hereby invited to attend a special meeting of the abova committee to be held In the Boys' school, Sealey street, on Thursday evening, the 10th inst, atjhalf* past seven o'clock; to furnish suoh inform mation as tbo committee may wish to obtain from you as headtcacher.

In reply to that Mr Phillips had written ab followB: To the Chairman of the Kauaeranga School Committee.

Sir,—l am in receipt , , of yonr letter of to. ] dny (10th inat) inviting me to a special meeting to further inveati?»to " the recent charges mhdo fisainsfc the Boys' sohool of laxity of discipline, eco.,"and in reply have the honour to inform you that I must de» c'ine the invitation, inasmuch as the matter, whioh ought in my opinion to have been strictly confidential between the parties concerned, has been made public; bnt I ehall be happy tn rfply to any written questions concerning the sohool as fir as I am able.—l have the honour to be, Sir, your obedient sorvant, IIORATIO'.PfIILM?3,

Tho Chairman paid that lie had hoped Mr Phillips would have boen presont to answer any questions the eommitiee should a&k him betrine on the charges made, bm from hie (Mr Phillips') own s'andpoint hp bad wisely refnsedi It now devolved upon tho commitiee to siy what course of ac'ion should be adopted. In giving bin opinion on 'he matter, hoirver, hooonld only aay 'ha* he thought Mr Phillips .had acted most discourteously to the committee, considering all that had passed, and as to Mr Phillipß , reference to ihe privacy of ilip roporiHjlie might mrm km i hat on (he morn ing following the last moeiinj? of ihe commiltee hornet Mr Phillips,when ihe lat'er attacked him about the very same ihiup, ani reflected on all the committee for Inr ing made hie report public. Of onuran he (the chairman) had informed Mr Phillips that the reporters were present, and as a consequence everything chat transpired was public properly. ~

Mr Hammond said that as far as he was concerned he still ■ held the estie opinion that it was not for (be comfort of tha teachers that these reports should be made public, mkl lie maintained ibat it could noi by any means bave a beneficial efiact on tha school, when it was made public that the lieiid-inaster bad written adverse repot,,B upon the teacher under him. The Chairman then mentioned that a person well up in edupa ional matters bad converged with him on tho same matter, and when he bad asked hire wha' he would do under the circumstances, he ha , ' eaid he wnnld bundle the reporter* out! A considerable amount of discussion followed about tho functions of committees, etc, when Mr Rattray etid that (hey had nothing to do with committee*. They had taken the present case in hand *o inves i?ate and h* was prepared to see it through. As fir as he was concerned, he thought 'bat tha committee had so far acted rightly. Mr Hammond also ipofce upon the action nf the committee, and said that be thought that the public, as well as tho preu,were ra her ienorant of the whole facts of the cast), and be thought that they should be enlightened in the matter. Mr Hammond llion explained the situa'ion of the case to the following , effect; In the first plica Mr Watson had gone to Mr Phillips and mndo hie complaint, but Mr Phillips said that lio wu» utterly poworleei to remedy the ovil in consequence of the want of help from bis a&sietant. Mr Waleon then decided to lay (ho matter before the committee, and if he did not receive satisfac-! tiuri he would appeal to the Board of Education. Then if he did not get redress ho would appeal to tho public. Aβ the CQintniltoo woro all aware Mr Wateon's charges were laid before tho committee, and they decided to hold an enquiry, With that end in view, an opportunity was afforded Mr Phillips and Mr Wntson to bo proson*, bjt on tho occasion of the meeting Mr Phillifn moet unreservedly put all the the assistant, while be, aehead took none of it. Whether Mr Phillips, was justified in doing so he could not pay; at all events Mr Gerring was ihon inritod to attend another meeting,and hn admitted tho charges mado against him by Mr Phillip?, and therefore the onmuiitteo had acted accordingly. Ho contended that a |!ood deal of iunorauce bad been displayed ovur tho affair, aud that no com* init'ee in New ijealantl had worked hotter for the pood of tho fchool and for the har« mony of the teaching staff than the Kauaerantja School uommitteo bad done 'I he Chairman here mentioned that Mr Gerring had eo far d< dined to cirry out the suggestions mado by the Oommittea at the last meeting. Mr McDonald thouehfc that aa Mr Phillips had refused to attend their meeting and Mr Gerring had not acred in aecordauoa with their wishes, the best thing to do'woe for the cpmn ittee Iα forward all oorrespon» dncetothelJosrd ofKdiioationand have llio waiter tot to rights, From the lier,d,uiiuiter

they had learned that the discipline of tlie school was not. what it should be, and be waa supported in this by the assistant. Mr McDonald therefore thought that the Board of Education should now be asked to deal with the question in a way to teefore the confidence of the public. r : The Chairman β-iid that tha want o£ discipline in the echool had been a burden for years past, but more espeoially of late; and much had been said to the members of the committee regarding the weaknm Reference was then made to Mr Phillips' complaints, and it was pointed out that he had 00-nplained to the members of the committee individually about Mr Gernng'e weakness with regard to the laxity of discipline, but when asked to report the matter officially, he had declined to do so, At the request oE Mr Rattray the letter sent to Mr Gerring, carrying out the infraction of last meeting, wss read e»s a'ready published in the Advertiser: To this letter it was stated Mr Gerring had nod replied- «? The Chairman then mentioned this lie had verbally asked Mr Qerrin? whether he was going to reply to the letter, but he stated that, as a gentleman, he did sot tee an& thing to reply to. lie then asked him if he intended to ask the Board of Education for a rsmoval.as suggeslei by the committee, and in reply to that, Mr Gerringsaid thifc be had nit given the matter any consideration and he was therefore unable to answer the

question, • Mr Paull then, asked that the Inspector's report en the school be read, Mr Whuohousnaad the reporbaa follows:,. P&9B subjects: Standard 7: Presented y nil. Standard 6 : Presented, 27; absent, 1; excepted, 0: filled, 4: passed, 22. Standard 5: Presented, 51; Absent. 3 ; oscepted, 6; failed, 10; passed, 32, Staniard,4 : Pre. sented, 45 ; absent, 3 ; excspted; 1; failed, 2s; passed, 18. Standard 3: Presented, 52; absent, 1; excepted, 2"; failed, 6; passed, 43, Standard 2; Presented, 55; absent, 1; excepted, 3: failed, 7 j ptssed, 44. Staudard 1: Presented, 51; abnent, 1: excepted, 0; failed, 5; passed, 45. Primar i ■resented, 174. Total. Presented, 455; absent, 10 ; excepted, 12; failed, 55; D&ssed, 201. Percentage of : paaaea: 41*S ; percentage of failures, 21'2, Glass subjects: Drawintr, 0 ; hiitory, 40; geography.'6o; elementary eoicno?; object; lesson/, etc, fiO. Total, 160. Percentage on class subjects, 53'3. Additional snbjeote; Repetition and rentation, 17; drill and exercises, 20; ebbing, 20; needlework, 19; subject mat'er of reading lesson?, 17; extra drawin;, 10. Additional marks, 103. In* emotion 'of Primar very satisfactory. These results arc, exiept in the case of standard 4, satisfaotory. In Standard 4 the results are very unsatisfactory, Much of 1 the work of this olass in arithmetic, epelN ing, and grammar was very inferior. In the other classes the work was, on the whole, pood, though fiome weakness appeared in the grammar of Standard 5 and Standard 6; and in composition generally. Class snbjects show only fair marks, while the additional subjects have been very well taught. The order, tone, and dissipline of the school are on the whole not satisfactory. Manners ara veiy good,

Mr Paull said he had hoped that Mr Phillips would have been present, so that thoy could gather mors fully wbo had taught Standard IV. last year. The Chairman said that in addition to the question to the question already asked Mr Gerring, he had asked the latter who had taught that oluu from the beginning of tho year nntil tho examination, and Mr Gerring replied that Mr Johnn and himself had, Ho then aiked Mr Qerring who had taught at the beginning of the year, and he answered to the following effect: Mr Johns, Hβ made all the mm, and he (Mr Gerring) followed on. At the instance of Mr Catran a consider* [ able amount of discussion again ensued Sβ to whether the headmasters report should have been considered as confidential, and tha manner in wlrioh Mr Phillips had epoken of.. Mr Gerringf's wane of discipline to the con>> mittee individually was also mentioned. The Chairman s'ated that jmtbsfore tho'Chriefcinaa holidays he met Mr Phillips in the school when Mr Phillips stated in an off-handed way that he was beaming physically unable to - his work in onsequeuce of the Insuffi* cieat he'p of the teaom'ng staff in general > but more particularly the assistant teacher, , who would do only the work appointed bin},and nothing more, ■■ ' 1 ■ Mr McDonald then moved to the effect that all the correspondence be eentto tha Board, and tha| they be asked to deal with the matters referred to therein at once, bo that the interest of the school m»y"b» coa. ser,vfd. ... - . * * Mr Panll seconded, and he pointed ont that he did so because he was of opinion. that gome obangs ihouM take place, It was all'very well for Mr Gerring to aay that his laxity of discipline was oat of kindness for the children, but in his (Mr Faull's) opinion, when it came to children oflS and 14 years of age they did not require that kind of kindness for their welfare that Me Gerring would have them believe, Mr Paall then referred at some length to what; had been said at the first meeting. He maintained that some ohange should take plaie, and contended that Mr Phillips at that meeting had said enough to bang % man. One of the .Committee! Oh, Mr Paull $ not to bad as that Mr Paull said that his meaning was, thtt the manner in which Mr Pbillipshad spoken of Mr Gerring was enough to condemn tha. latter anywhere. . ; «, Mr McDonald referred to hie .motion and pointed ont that Mr Phillips had cast a Blue on Mr Gerring, but the latter instead of aaking , for an enquiry and having the matter thoroughly investigated, bad pocketed ths shir like a lamb, Mr RJttray spoke very strongly against; the motion, and contended that the oom« mittee had carried the matter just ht enouah to convict Mr Uerring, a&djtiw, it seemed to him they wanted to $Gnttho matter on to tho shoulders of the/Board of Education, .He thought that ass they had taken the matter inlipad they should finish it, oorae to some decision and then forward all the correspondence and their decision to the Board. Uβ did not believe in doing things by halves. A rather headed discussion then ensued between the Chairman and Mr Eattray, the former contending that the committee had tot eonviotedMr Gorring. Mr Rattray, however, maintained that the committee had convicted Mr Gerring en a curtain oharge, and that it was thoir dnty to sift the matter to tho Mr Watson had made certain charges against the school; a mreting was held at whioh Mr Phillips aN tended, and he in turn cast all the blame on Mr Gerring, but none of Mr Phillips state* ments were taken down, Then Mr Gerring attended a meeting, but, otherwise than in Mr Phillips' case, all his explanations were/ taken down, and published in'tho papers. And now, after gning so far, the comaittea eould come to so decision, but it seemed to hiai that they wero frightened to go oa withthe oase. Tho Chairman asked Mr Baltray to suggest any other plan or movo an amendment, but Mr Battray eaid no-he would not, but he would not suppoit the motion. He thought tho Committee should deal with the case themselves. ( Tho Chairman : But we have been treated with contempt, and we have no ether course open to us. Mr .Battray then stated that, as Mr Phillips would not attend the meeting the Committee should do as Mr Phillips auggeetetl—aak him questions in writing and lot him answer them, . It was pointed out tbat this wouji b^

rather tcdioun work, If Mr Phillips had only oonßentfd to come to tho meeting they ctm'd liavo had moioqiiceliopa answered in half au hour than by all the correspondence, ;'The rini'inan said the committco were nonplussed, as Mr Phillips had ignored tho committee by not ootniog to tho meeting, so that be coald be cross-examined by the iommitte, 'Mrßattray: Yo.i; and if Mr Gerring had bsen wine ho would have done the same, for everything had appeared against one man. u r MoVonstld maintained that tho Board of Education woe quits as capable of talciug ft dispaa'ionate view of the case ae they (the committee) were, and ho was quite sure that anything that had appeared in the papers wonld not influence the members of the Board either way, In his opinion the Board were now under the circuinatanofe ', tho proper, persons ty deal with the case as Sp-they thought fit, to remove eithti the head* master or the assistant. Mr Whitehead then moved an amendment —" That in consequence of a complaint made by Mr Watson regarding the disoip* line of the Kanaeeanga Boys , School, and the committes having it ade enquiiy into tho matter ao far as they are able* the who e of • the correspondence be now sent to the Board of Education .'• Thie was seconded by Mr Hammi'iid. Mr Katlfy thouzbt that the following words should be luldc^; "Wedo so becaueo we oannot come to a decision, and we ask you (thoßotrd of Education) to arrive aha decision for us.'' It seemed to him they would no so far, but were afraid to go further. , ■ • , ...... The Chtir'nun : No ! It is not because we are afraid, bat we are check-ucated and an able tog> further. . . : : '' MrMcDona'di It;Mr Eattcay will lay us onto get further information I will sit hero for a week, Mr Paull: After tiic reports and what we have heard, it is necessary for the interest of the'pchool that either Mr Phillips or Mr Gerriog should go. . The resolution and amendment were then put m& the latter was declared carried. Mr Rttttray them lit that when tho com» roittea sat for a , special purpose, they Bhoutrl come to Eome decision aud forward that decision on to the Board with the correspondence, At the BU?(fPßtion of one of tho committee, Mr \\ hicehead then added the latter portion of the original motion to his amendment that waq carried—namely, "That they be asked to deal with the matter referred to therein at once, so tbat the interests of the.school may be conserved," This wag carried, and tho meeting terminated,