Greytown Public School Meeting.

Wairarapa Standard, Volume XX, Issue 2016, 12 January 1887, Page 2

Greytown Public School Meeting.

To the Editor of the Standard. Sib, —Being a schoolmaster, I read the report which appear,d lately in your valuable paper of the proceedings of a rather excitable meeting concerning (.loiter vetaus Porritt. It called to mind a remat k made by an old lady whom 1 tret in a railway carriage the other day, “ Ye schoolmasters has a deal to pat np wi’. If ye don’t bay yonr little trifle of goods from the draper or the butcher, why they gets on the committee and then go straight for the poor public schoolmaster.” I wonder is this so to any large extent. I do not wish to enter upon the question at issue between the committee and the headmaster. However, there is one thing quite clear. If it is desirable to have a local committee to outage the business incidental to the maintenance of a public school, the best and most intelligent men of the district should be sought out and asked to act. The letter addressed to the .Education Board and signed by Pierce Cotter, Jon., is a curiosity. Oh 1 Cotter!! Cotter 1! 1 when next yon “ get up” charges against the local pedagogue, see that your position is well fortified. Poor boy, you must have felt crestfallen, or to use your own term, reduced as your opponent piled up favourable report upon favourable report. That was a good stroke of yours Porritt, to appeal to the Inspector. Greytown can only furnish such a man as Cotter to preside over the most important organisation in your respectable borough ! The part played by one man, Mr Wood, is above praise. You’re a true man, good, sound timber at the core. I was also not a little pleased to see that Mr Cox was loyal to his chief. Teaching a low slaudatd doesn’t necessarily imply a weak teacher. And now Mr Porritt, let me say a word to you. If you desired to take the special charge of a lower standard, why did you do so under the direction of Mr Lee ? I have the greatest respect for Mr Lee, but in the matter of efficiency, of my little army, I sin emperor, and would bid all aud sundry to stand aside to should you, Teaeheis. Your highest interests are at Hake, How long will you he apathetic:’ Unite, form au association, and show by your combined efforts that you are animated hy the highest motives for the advancement of Young New Zealand. You will thus gather around you the elite of the Valley, meu in sympathy with the great work of education. | 1 am &c., ; W.ibabafa Teaches.

To the Editor of the Standard.

Sib—Will you kindly allow me a email space in your paper lo mike a (ew remarks regarding the meeting held in the school room on Thursday evening, CtU inetant. I aoknow. ledge alt you said in your report, esoept the word “ earned," on which 1 wish to make a few remaiks. When the show of hands was called for, there were many hands held up. At the close of the counting, or before it was settled about the number, there was a cry bv one or two persons, “ Divide, Divide," and instantly they left their seats to divide, and is this took place, I consider the show oi bands tell to the ground. The division never took place, there was no com t tdkan for or against, and the people rmhsd on 1 , in great confusion. Therefore, I must say the resolu* tion, As a matter of form waa not carried. I never pronounced it carried. I am, &0., M. Udy, Sen., Chaiimio, Greytown, Jan.lO. I

[When It was decided at the meeting to take a show ol hands, it wna called for, and thirty were held up. ■' On the contrary " was only represented by one hand. Then arose a cry of •' Divide, ’ but the meeting, looking iipon this as a bit of fun broke up hurriedly, — Bsrows# i.