INDIGNATION MEETING

Timaru Herald, Volume LX, Issue 2358, 1 April 1897, Page 4

INDIGNATION MEETING

A meeting of householders was held at the schoolroom, (Jeraldine, on Tuesday pighl to ciisuuab ujatteta relating to the

recent appointment of a headmaster to the Geraldine School. Mr F. Sherratt, chairman of the committee, presided, and a lengthy discussion took place during which householders presentspoke strongy against one individual member of the Board who, it waSasserted, practically ruled the rest of the roost. It was finally resolved on the motion of the Rev. J. Preston seconded by Mr W. S. Maslin " that this meeting of householders approve of the aotion of the local School Committee in reference to the election of the headmaster to the Geraldine District School and upholds all they have done hitherto, and protests strongly against the arbitrary mode adopted by the South Canterbury Board of Education in the appointment of teachers to the / various schools." The .resolution was carried unanimously with loud applause. A petition was afterwards drawn up to be' presented to the Board through the' Committee. The petition was signed by the householders present arid raft thus :— '• To the chairman of the South Canterbury Board of Education.— We, the undersigned householders of the Geraldine district, respectfully petition your Board to reconsider the appointment of headmaster of this school, as we are unanimously of opinion that the gentleman appointed to this position should have larger experience in teaching in primary schools, and have testimonials giving proof of his ability and past successes." A sub-committee was formed' to canvass the town for signatures to the petition. During the evening the testimonials of three of the applicants were read, and the meeting was unanimously of opinion that considering the circumstances of the Geraldine School, the appointment had not been a judicious one, as what the Geraldine School required was not a master with a first class classical education, but one who understood primary work and could raise the position of the school.