Greytown Public School.

Wairarapa Standard, Volume XX, Issue 2014, 7 January 1887, Page 2

Greytown Public School.

PUBLIC MEETING OF HOUSEHOLDERS A public meeting of householders was held last night at the Greytown schoolbouse, called by the members of the school committee. There was a large attendance and much interest was felt in the proceediugs. Mr E. Gray proposed that the Mayor (Mr Udy) should take the chair. Mr Fabian seconded. Mr B. J. Thompson thought the chairman of the school committee was the proper person to preside, though he did not object to the Mayor. Mr Gray thought a chairman outside of the school committee would be the best. The committee wore there to speak upon the case. Mr Cotter, chairman of committee, then left the chair, agreeing with Mr Gray's remarks.

His Worship the Mayor having taken the chair, read the advertisement calling the meeting, which was to consider the action of the committee re the head master. Not knowing much of the matter, be was quite independent, and be hoped those present would express themselves candidly and considerately. He would call upon Mr Cotter the chairman of the committee to state his views. Mr P. Cotter said as a public man with public duties to perform, there were at times unpleasant duties, and on this occasion he

regretted that the duty he had before him was unpleasant. The meeting bad been called together to consider the teaching in the Greytown School and the head master. The fifth and sixth standards had not been satisfactory for a considerable time, and pressure bad been brought to bear upon the committee to look into the matter and know tbe reason why. As a gentleman and private individual be respected Mr Porritt, but as a schoolmaster be was more a failure than otherwise It was upon his continued failures, aud not this year alone, that the committee took action. By the paper those present had been made acquainted with the doings ol the committee. On the 18th November, a special meeting was held to consider Mr Lee’s report, and the reeult was a letter to the Board ol Education, asking that the head master be exchanged. A reply was received to the effect that tlie Board had adjourned ! consideration ol the matter for a monta. At tbe end of the mouth a letter was received stating that should the results of next examination be unsatisfactory the engagement of tho head master would terminals. This the committee thought very unsatisfactory, especially after they had put up with the head master for edit yoai.s, aud tonight they were thcie to ask the public to say whether they had done tigut or wrong. Mr Cotter theu real Mr Lee's last report (a summary ol I winch appealed in tho Si-noahd of Moudny.) Mr Leu in suggesting that Mr Porritt should take a lower cla-os had really acknowledged 1 in so doing his (Mr P's) iuability. It lowered the tone of tire school to give Mr Cox the I beau master's place aud get the head master to lake smaller classes. Since the change the people of Greytown had asked why it wag and the constant pressure had led to tbe present action of the committee. After the children had passed tue Ith Standard it was optional with the parents whether they sent them to school or not. aud they were allowed to run about the streets rather than seut to school to be taught by the head master. 1 Every year there had been failures in the upper standards. Mr (iray asked that tbe whole of the correspondence be read, I Mr Cotter—l have done so. Mr Gray—But there is more than the reso* lations passed. Mr Cotter—l will read the copy of a letter. It is merely the same i s tbe one sent. Tbe following is the tetter referred to : Greytown. Nov 5, 1886. The Chairman Education Board, Wellington.

Silt, —I have the honor, by direction of the tfreytowu School Com mi lien to forward you a copy of a resolution passed at a special meeting of the Committee held at the school house on the ISlh November, H>l> ; " It Was unanimously resolved that the Ch'iirumi write to tho itduca'.iou bond, eiirucst'y requesting the board either to exchange the bead master of the Ureytowu School to some other position, or that he be

asked to resign bis position •* b . f and that a ramo competent nun ’ to h.i thw v.ic.n -.. , . i u illg The lessons ot the (. i.mui ■ * this step are — of let. On account ul the lo* P* . paws in the school for the last e y ■ • and notably this year. viz., ■t 2nd. The inability of Mr Porr.lt t J condu the school. . 3rd. General dissatisfaction «l . dents of the town at the neglectful • of the head master, thereby causing . _ ‘ lake tlicir children away from the rey School, and, in some cases pay 0 1 children being taught at private sc oo| other cases, and by far too many, ‘J’ their children to tun about the streets, s than send them to Mr Porritt « classes. 4th. Also oo account ol the Insp c , Mr Lee, reducing the head master from " oth and filb Standards,’and patting 1 teach the 4th Standard, thereby Kkuowledgmg the incapacity of the head master, and ing the tone of the school.” I have the honor, to be, Bit. Yours respectfully, PIKBCE CloirEß, Jcv. Chairman School Committee.

There were cries of " Name," when that part of the letter was road referring to soma parents sending tlicir children to private schools, rather lhau to the public school. Mr Cotter--! can name Mr R J Thompson and Mr Wood.

Mr Wood —I bf K pardou. la fairness to the head master I will say that 1 kept two of my boys away because 1 did not wish them to pass—believing it required more than twelve months to ground them in the work of a standard. Mr Lee, the Inspector, censured me for so dniug, saying I was doing an injustice to the head master by my action. Mr Cotter—l considered that one of my sons would be better away, aud I kept him away. But though I did not with him to pass the first year he did not succeed the second year. I then took him away altogether. He was a smart boy, too. Hr Cotter then said he considered the reply of the Board evasive. Mr Porritt could perhaps get a better per centage of passes out of the fourth standard, but it was not fair to Mrs Scale that she should be reduced to take the third standard. Mrs Scale had faiily driven it into the children, and yet she was reduced. In conclusion Mr Cotter said that the committee had called the meeting to see if the householders would endorse the action of the committee. If they, as committeemen, had not done their duty the meeting must say so,

Mr Cox, assistant tercher explained that taking a lower standard in a school did not mean a reduction as Mr Cotter Lad put it At the Mount Cook school be bad passed every child in the fourth standard ; he had taken the third, and had not succeeded so well. It was no slur on teaching ability to teach a lower standard. Mr H de Clifton, one of the committee, said they had brought the matter before the public in justice to Mr I’orntt, and it was toi the meeting to say whether he should be kept or not. Some present had no children and others never would have auy (laughter), and he thought they should hold back and let parents decide tire questions. Mr F H Wood suggested that Mr i' nitt should be permitted to speak on his o«n behalf. In reply to Mr (Jotter, the speaker said it often happens that the head master took uo class at all, but supervised ; or he might be placed in charge of a class, that did not need all his attention. It was no disgrace to teach a low standard. (Hear, hear.) Mr B .1 Thompson (one of the committee), said be had no selfish thought in this matter, but several (ireytown residents had been to him and asked if nothing could be done to improve matters at the school. Being influenced he consented to tiie letter. The Board bad replied und really coincided with the Committee. The question was, Shall we submit to the suggestion of the Education

j Board? If so, be, for one, would wish every success to the head master in bis future work. 1 Mr Porritt, the head master, then came , forward and said that the Committee bad ■ held a meeting which seriously affected him--1 self. He heaid of it accidentally from Mr Nation. He was afterwards asked if ha would resign, by two members of the Comi mittee —Mr Udy and Mr Cutler—and even at that time he did not know what had been i written to the Board. Under these circumi stances he declined to resign bis position, i He woald answer the matters in the School Committee’s letter one by one. The per* i ceutsge of passes lor the last few years were— I 1883, 79 ; 1884, 89; 1885, 72 ; 1886 . 81. . This year the poor percentage of passes was i baaed on the number on the roll and not on i the number examined. 141 were examined, and 114 passed, equal to 81 pet cent 01 i the failure! in the upper standards, three i were under age, and four made very little [ over half attendance*. As to ability be ; thought the Inspector was the best judge, i The accusation of the Committee ha (Mr P.) . could put in a very different light. Tba . Inspector had no right to interfere with the 1 organisation of a school; bis duty w&s to i report things as be found them. Tie organisation of a school belonged to the head master

and ilia ability to conduct a Urge school wai i tested by his organisation. He would there* tore read what Inspector Lee bad to say in his Inspection tteports: “ Juae, 1880, Accidental visit. School in active and efficient working order ; the teaching power is sufficient, and the discipline is much improved under Mr Porritt, who is an energetic and painstaking master.” June, 1881 —Found the work ol the school going on with very good order in all classes. The general work - ing arrangements appears to me good, the teaching effect! »e and the discipline all that | could be desired. Moat ol the written woik is neatly done." June, 1882—"Alter ths muster was completed the school settled down to very quiet and methodical work. The school is well appointed and with lew exceptions well ordeie.i. The discipline on j the whole is good. The upper classes ara ! under very pood instruction. . . Alto j (tether 1 .nu lunch pleased With the school as ; a whole ,v d I ii ive reason to think the school j promises to snow improved work at the next examination." August. 1888 - Order ot school is good and the children appear to he kept well to their work." dune, 1881-1 find the school in good an J improved wmkiug order. Tne general tone d t' lo school and lira discipline are much h,-i. cr thin Ihey were a few years ago. The school is generally satisfactorily managed and well appointed. I have Had good opportunity afford. 1 me today ol seemg the drill, sewing, singni; .inlduw'm--t'hesa subject arc ul. Uug i; sfisUU-nly

tiie das. i j an l hk• .< j.-»jt ♦ ; t ,, ] | found them 1.i.-i you , i'ni : t. ,i 'iiers appear ; earnest au l conscii-nihms ia !he disehargc <d their duties. I miu iiiucii pleased will) what 1 have seen today. ' August, ish",_ ■ fiie school is m lair order of work, and the discipline ia pi.-uy pood throughout, Speakie;.’ ul the condition of the school generally, 1 tind the work being satisfactorily carried on. ' August:!, Ittsh The organisation of the school is satisfactory. The time tables of Standards, 1. 5. and fi are good. Standards three needs modification, and Standard 2 ghou d provide for two drawing lessons. The teachers ate mostly experienced, aud the methods and quality ol instruction are of quite average value. The order, discipline and lone of tue school are 'very fair. The supervision in recess ia satisfactory, one of the teachers always on the grouud. The manners aud general behaviour Jof Ihe ate fait. The cleanliness and tidiness ol the rooms and premises, including the out offices, ventila* lion, and warming, are satisfactory. The rooms were well warmed on a cold wet day. The fences have recently been repaired. I was much dleased with a science lesson in methods of producing heat, given with suitable experiments by the head master. Vere Foster’s copy books are used, and the writing is good."

After reading these reports, air Porritt, in answer to the Unnl acrusalion in the letter to the Kducatioa board, said ho did not know [ of a siugie case. Ay t u accusation lour he S.id it was Simply M1,.-Ufd. h.r it was swell known fact to all who bad auv knowledge at ah ol educational marten, that the lower clauses require tiie moat teaching powar*

fii~ litpretor bal cm* t- i : .e .-.ujo c ncluT ioo *M himeslf. llSrUtdy, -.,! g .od is-ulls could not be iookt i t r m tV higher «un duds' until lb-> third »tan Urd. which ha? been the weak point in the school for several yaara put, was worked op to the standard point. Mr Porntl said be proposed taking it himself, baton talking the matter over with the Inipeeter ne suggested that Mrs Seale •baald be naked to take it. which she kindly contented to do, on condition that it «u for one year only, so that she might have the mum children in Slandaul 4 next yeu He decided t" tnk- Standard 4 this Tear, so as to be mete at lioerty to supervise the pupil Metiers and the school generallyHiring Standards 5 and 6 be cm Id not posaibly derote so nmrh attention to the other Standards as he ought ti do Mr Cotter complained that children were keptawav from school and ran about the streets. He had mentioned Mr Thompson's children as being prieatsly tsocht. bat Mr Thompson's children were nerer under his (Mr P's| tuition, and it was wrong to jadge him regarding them. When Mr Thompson« little ~irl Jett the eehool she raid she was wanted •( home Mr Muir mentioned Mr W J'Jy as hiving remored hit children. Mr Pomtt said Mr UJy came to him like a gentleman and told him that so much time was lost in crossing the river that be was gemg to remove his children. Mr Cotter had taken bis boy awsv, being dissatisfied, but Mr Ponamby the master of the Mitarawa school, told him that the boy waa well grounded in eversthing and was surprised that be did not pass Mr Otter had visited the school as chairman but he bad never said anything of what was going on concerning him (Mr P). Mr Cotter—How is it that so few pata in 6th Standard. Mr Porritt—Because they are kept at home. F Mr Baigh said bs kept bis boys at home aa be found work for them to do. Mr Cdy, jun . (one of tbe committee) sai I the action of the committee was taker because of outside complaints. Mr Porri ’ wm a aseful gentleman in Oreytown. but the had to deal with him as a schoolmaster Two or three persons spoke britflyon tin subject before the meeting, and ultimately Mr Uray proposed ■■ That this meeting has foil confidence in tbe teaching abilities cf Mr Porritt."

Mr EUitfb petocded the motion, *bicb war earned, and the meeting bioke op