A Patutahi Trouble.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume II, Issue 180, 9 August 1888, Page 2

A Patutahi Trouble.

THE SCHOOLMASTER AND THE COMMITTEE. A meeting of householders and parents was held at Patutahi on Saturday evening last to hear Mr MacLintock’s reply to the charges made against him by the School Committee. Not having been previously informed of the meeting a reporter from our regular staff was not present, but a report has been supplied tie from a disinterested and, we believe, thoroughly reliable source. There was v crowded attendance, the hall being packedMr Bilham was called to the chair. After a few introductory remarks he called on Mr MacLintock, the master of the school, to explain the alleged false and malicious charges preferred against him by two or three members of the School Committee, namely that he (Mr MacLintock) was not at all suited for his position “ neither in school nor out.” Mr MacLintock said that the meeting had been called to consider the first part of the charge—the latter part would be decided by a court of law. (Cheers). Ha went on to remark that the first cause of the disturbance arose from a letter written to him which ran as follows :—

Patutahi, June 13, 1888. ® ir i * I P ee ! :in g the School Committee, night, it was resolved to write you and inform you that the committee are not at all satisfied with the way the school is being carried on as regards school hours, as also the discipline of the school. As regard 3 the school hours, frequently the school has not been opened before ten o’clock and the children seem to come just when they they like, and from the statements of the children they say you merely tell them to take their seats and do not punish them, so they are not particular when they come. The Committee are of opinion this must be stopped and that the hours must be regular, so that the children can be taught the required time each day, which you know is five hours. With regard to the school discipline the committee think it must be very bad, the visiting committee for last month having reported that during their visit everything seemed upgjde down. They thought it seemed as if y OU had n 0 oomrnan d over the children—they could do as they liked. The Committ ee write this letter to inform you of their dissatisfaction and hope you will at once turn your attention to these matters and have the same rectified at once.—For Patutahi School Committee,

A. Douglas, Chairman. In reply to the above Mr MacLintock proved to the satisfaction of the audience that the statements in the letter were not accurate, and this was owned to by the chairman of the committee later on. In the visit made to the school by Messrs Douglas and Lewis thev pronounced everything highly satisfactory. and in the face of which they had the audacity (ho it was stated) to cause to be forwarded to the Board a “false and malicious letter concocted in some private house.” This letter was written before any discussion on the subject had taken place, and was brought to a special meeting of the committee and presented before them for their approval, which proceedings were objected to by three members of the committee. It seems also that the chairman had been exercising power which even an Inspector of schools would not have done on a surprise visit. After Mr MacLintock had finished speaking several gentlemen rose and expressed themselves highly satisfied as to the progiess of their children since Mr MacLintock had taken charge. After a few questions had been asked and answered satisfactorily, Mr J. Price proposed the following resolution “ That the parents and householders sign a petition to be forwarded to the Board, condemning the action of the School Committee in the dismissal o master.” Mr Lougher seconded the proposition, which was put to the meeting, and carried unanimously, After a vote of thanks had been proposed to the chairman by Mr Tuohy and seconded by Mr Gallagher, the meeting terminated.