AND A PROTEST.

Thames Star, Volume LVII, Issue 15113, 23 December 1921, Page 5

AND A PROTEST.

- TO'BE CONSIDERED. (Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Dec. 22. The Carterton School Committee is dissatisfied with the Education Board’s enquiry into Miss Park’s ease, and sent a deputation to the Minister of Education td protest. The committee objected to the enquiry being held in secret, and claimed that the board’s finding was dead against the evidence. They took strong exception to a letter published by Miss Park, and said that their views were supported by. the inspectors and the headmaster of the school. This and other evidence was suppressed, and they asked the Minister to insist on its being published. Mr Parr said that the department had asked for the notes of the evidence, and the board had refused to give them. - The deputation went on to sa)y that members of the committee and the Director of Education were rudely treated at the enquiry.' Although the Board had exculpated Miss Park, it had taken a private undertaking from her that she would not repeat her conduct. Why did the board suppress this fact? The Minister, said while loth to over-rule an Education Board, he considered the shutting out of the, press and public from an enquiry a ?rave mistake. The refusal of the board to let its own members see the evidence was also a blunder. These facts, and the refusal to let the department- see the evidence,' must cause grave suspicion. The.Di- j rector of Education who was present,- ; had supplied him with notes which showed that extraordinary ' methods' had prevailed, indicating ! *ross bias and unfairness, and predetermination of the issue. Moreover thg_, evidence given by the two : headmasters 1 who recently had Miss Park under their charge, and-by the Senior Inspector of Schools, showed • ;hat these impartial and expert wit-: 1 lesses were exceedingly dissatisfied j vith her, and her attitude, and con- ' sidered that her utterances were caljulated to exert a baneful influence ipon her classes. In the classroom ' ihe had referred .to the death of -■ 'Turse Cavill, and to the part played 1 »y the British Navy in the war in a * nanner which drew a strong protest J ind condemnation from her.headmas-. er. He would confer . with the de- 1 >artment as to whether further ae- J ion was not* necessary in the inter- 1 •sts of .ordinary justice. " „ * ! * ** \