EDUCATION BOARD.

Western Star, Issue 987, 3 October 1885, Page 2

EDUCATION BOARD.

Fiuday, 2nd October,

(From (ho “ News.”)

Mr Jabez Golding was appointed first assistant to Biverton District High School. The tender of Mr A. W. Campbell, £l4O 295, for erection of school at Colac Bay, wan accepted.

ihe secretary was instructed to make enquines as to whether there were any unsold sections in tho township of Otautau with a view to securing some of them for school purposes.

Ihe head teacher of the Limestone Plains school wrote stating that as the date of examination for scholarships had been altcied from' December of this year to Juno of next, some childreu would be debarred from examination, as they would then be over the required age.—lt was resolved that tor the coming scholarship examinations all pupils who would be eligible in December, 1885, should be permitted to take part iu tho examination taking place iu June, 1886. Henry Young, head teacher of tho Orepuki bchol, wrote iu reply to the charges laid against him by the Orepuki Good Templar , T e vr f kaving locked tho door of tho school tv liito Mr Pulton was delivering a tempwanc® lecture. In explanation he admitted bavin* locked the door, but said he did so in I moment of extreme irritation. Ho had gone to some trouble iu prepax-ing a building ad. joining for Sunday service, and Mr Fulton or some member of the audience had got into the building by tho window and placed a light there. Ho stated that as showing the cause or Ins anger, and not as an excuse. On the following day he apologised to Mr Fulton for Ins act, and afterwards to the School Com. mittee. As to the imputation made by Mr hsoott that he (the teacher) was concerned m other outrages, ho totally denied any connection with them whatever. Mr Escott end one or two others had done all in their power to annoy him ever since he resided at OreSeveral letters were put in in support of Mr Young’s case. In reference to the cayenne pepper incident one writer stated that Mr Young was at his house during?the whole evening, and could not possibly have taken part in it. The secretary of the Sohool Committee intimated that the teacher'e apology had been accepted on the ground that at the time Mr Young committed the offence he was much irritated. A document noarly 40 re sUonts representing 110 children was also read. The signatories stated that Mr young was very attentive to his work, and expressed satisfaction with the manner in which he discharged his duties ae schoolmaster. ,

The Chairman said it was quite clear That the suggestion made by Mr JSscott to tho efteet that Mr Young was concerned in othor disturbances was erroneous. The othor charge of locking the door was admitted, and u. was assuredly a very serious matter. At ri'-st, he had thought “ihey should give tho teacher three months’ notice, but ho now felt soma hesitation in tho matter, seeing that th* OiinmiUec had accepted ins apologv. and that the householders had given a favorable expression of opinion on Air Young’s discbarge of his duties. The act was a grossly improper one, and the question was whether they rluuld accept an ap ilogy, and severelv reprimand tbe teacher or have him removed. Mr Alaekintosh did not think they should pi ice too much reliance in the petition that had been read. The act was one that should nit oo passed' over 1-ghMy, and Die Board should certainly express its strong disaporobalion of t he teacher’s conduct. • Mr Litmsden agree ! with Die views that had been expressed, and considered that «• Mr Young had apologised the occasion did not demand the adoption of extreme measure*. Me moved—“ That Mr Young having apolnsis at for his foolish and disorderly act, which lie declares was done in a mom nit of irritation, the Board ttill consider the act highly censurable, but, seeing that the School.Cominittee and the great majority of the householders in the district are desirous of allowing the matter to pa«s, aud observing their general high ooinion of Mr Young’s previou* conduct as the school teacher, Die Board r solves to endorse the action of the School Committee.”

Mr Turnbull, in see ending the motion, said he thought Mr i oung should bo given another chance. Under the circumstance* it wmld I* rather hard to dismiss him, moro cpecially as he was a young mm, and wa* wanting in the discrimination that would b* found in one of maturer years. Mr McLeod considered that Dm teacher had no reasonable grounds for the loss of t miner he displayed on the night the offence was committed. Air Young was the master of one of tho most important country school* in the district, a fact that made hi* conduct tho more inexcusable. If passed over lightly it would appear as though the Board coil, nived at larrikinism. His first idea was that the teacher should receive three month** notice, but he would net press it. The Chairman thought, there was some ground for tho teacher’s conduct, but no j is'ification for the committal of the act. When a person owned his fault and made reparation immediatdy, it certainly went in his favour. Had Jit been Diown that ha was connected with the other offences, then he certainly would not favour the acoeptasioa of an apology.

Air Baldoy b dioved they wore dealing too I ndent I v with Die teach-r and considered that tho resolution should have boon worded in stronger terms.

Mr Shanks remarked ‘tint the teacher would rea 'ily understand from the wording of the resolution that the repetition of tho offence would b > followed by dismissal. Tho motion was carried without dissent.