The Waipukurau School Affair.

Waipawa Mail, Volume X, Issue 1022, 14 December 1886, Page 2

The Waipukurau School Affair.

TIIE following remarks were made l»y members of the Board when the Waipukurau School conmnittee’s request that an enquiry be held was brought before them, as reported in the Telegraph : From Waipukurau, forwarding a complaint that Mr Anderson had been refused permission to seo certain papers in the Board’s office, and asking that Mr Anderson might be supplied with the information wanted. Tho chairman of tno Committeo also complained of the conduct of Mr Anderson at the Committee’s meeting. Captain Russell asked if the Committee recommended anything. The Chairman said there was no recommendation. What the letter did was to reflect on the Inspector. Mr Sutton said the Committee allowed tho master to take an active part in the meeting.

The Chairman read the correspondence. The master in his first letter refused to accept the results in tho fifth and sixth standards, as Mr W. C. Smith had interviewed the Inspector privately before the results were made known* The chairman of the Committee, in forwarding tho correspondence, asked that an enquiry might be held at an early date. The Inspector had written asking what unfair treatment the Waipukurau school had been subjected to, but to that letter there nad been no reply. The Inspector said he had written his report at Norsewood on the day lie examined the Waipukurau school. Mr Smith had called at the hotel just ns he was finishing scheduling tho results, and they had no conversation except that he (the Inspector) had said “ the papers were turning out very good.” Mr Anderson was not present on the first day of the examination, but next day lie spoke toliim privately as to the disturbance. (The Inspector then read his report, which was of a flattering character.) He said the report was one of the best in llawkcs Bay. The Chairman said the master had written r strong reflection on the Inspcc tor’s work, and though asked to furnish a statement on tho 9th December lie had not done so. Tho master had no right to mnlte such a statement in reference to an officer of the Board. As to tho squabble with the Committee they had nothing to do with that. A man making a statement without any proof did not deseivo any enquiry, and he could not understand the Committee making any such recommendation.

The Inspector said no application to see tho papers had ever been made by the master. lie had never refused such a request made by any teacher. Tho chairman said the master should ho asked to retract the statement he hud made reflecting on tlie Inspector. The charge would have to be absolutely with-drawn. Captain Russell thought it would not be right to allow any master to judge of the fairness of the Inspector’s report, as it would be subversive of discipline. Tno following resolution was carried : “ That Mr Anderson be informed the Board consider he has made charges against the Inspector which have no foundation and are quite unjustifiable, and that ho is required to apologise through this Board for his conduct, and withdraw the improper statement lie has made. That a copy of tho letter to be sent to Mr Anderson be also forwaided to tho School Committee, and tho Committee be further informed the Board do not deem it advisable under the circumstances to furnish tho records of the examination for Mr Anderson’s “ information.”