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so given that the most serious aspect of the
case appears.
"We consider the evidence of Jessie Webb
substantially true. Following the enquiry of the Managers, the
master committed what was in our opinion an act of gross tyranny
in giving to the whole school a special lesson during the time
set apart for religious instruction, holding the child up before
the school as a little girl who told lies. Subsequently, as part
of the same process, the mistress succeeded, in the presence of
witnesses, in coercing the child to retract her statement in
part at least.
"These incidents, which were proved by
witnesses called by the master himself, disclose a case of gross
intimidation, and were in our opinion an indication that he
and the mistress are not fit to be in charge of the
school."
Mr. Hulkes then spoke in support of the petition,
which was not discussed at the last Council Meeting because of
the action then pending in the High Court. The speaker spoke to
the way in which the petition was signed by parents of past and
present scholars of Ash Schools, and said that practically the
whole of the parishioners regarded Mr. Meyers as a perfectly
fair master and a good man at his work. On Friday last the case
was settled in it’s legal aspects in the High Court, and he
(Mr. Hulkes) now bought the case to the Council on the questions
of justice and expediency. In arguing against the justice of the
Managers’ decision, he was cognisant of the fact that he was
speaking against two of the most trusted members of the Council,
the late Chairman and the Vice-Chairman. |
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While he yielded to none the respect he felt
for those gentlemen, yet he thought a knowledge of local
circumstances was of considerable value in a matter of this
kind. The speaker went on to allege a feud between the Rector
and the schoolmaster, and to say that the Local Government Act
was to blame for six persons being able to coerce the remainder
of the village, who were in favour of the schoolmaster. All
sorts of persons, rich and poor, had signed the petition –
many coming long distances without being asked because they had
themselves attended Ash Schools and wished to stick up for the
master. As to the expediency of the dismissal, he pointed to the
feeling which had been engendered, and asked the Council to
allow the parish to have something to say on this question,
urging that Mr. Meyers was not quite the man he had been made to
appear at the two enquiries held. He proposed that the prayer of
the petition be granted.
Mr. Tapp, rising to a point of order, inquired
whether the Council had power to grant the petition.
The Chairman replied that the Disciplinary
Committee acted under powers given them by the Education
Committee to assent to the dismissal of schoolmasters by
Managers. He very much doubted the possibility of continuing Mr.
Meyers at Ash except with the consent of the Managers. A large
number of influential people had signed a petition tom the
Council, however, and it was only courteous and right that it
should be considered. Under those circumstances he regarded the
motion as perfectly in order. |