|
post of head mistress. Also against the mis-statements
and lies that have been circulated, and the unsatisfactory way
in which the school managers have carried out their
duties."
The resolution was as follows: "That this
meeting express its deep appreciation and gratitude to Miss
Wright for the long and strenuous service to the children, and
requests that her services should be retained as headmistress. A
copy of this resolution shall be forwarded to the school
managers and the Kent Education Committee."
After several counts and enquires as to the rights
of several people to vote, the resolution was declared carried
at 67 votes to four.
An additional resolution was also passed by the
meeting, as follows,: "That we bring to the notice of the
Ash Parish Council that we (the ratepayers) object that the
evacuated teachers at Ash Parish School should be given milk,
paying their half-penny (or they may not), and our children of
Ash having to go without."
PARENTS PROTEST.
TEACHER DISMISSED AFTER 27 YEARS.
Request for Services To Be
Retained.
Ash Parish room was crowded on Thursday evening when a
protest meeting of parents of children attending the local
school was held.
The chief topic was the dismissal of Miss Wright
after 27 years of service at the school. It was alleged that the
evacuated teachers from London were largely responsible for her
removal. Miss Wright said that they had complained to one of the
school managers about the way in which she had arranged the
classes and also that she was too careful with the milk.
"I arranged the classes as I thought in the
best interests of the children." Said Miss Wright.
"With regard to the milk, I only tried to see that each
child |
|
received sufficient. I was also accused of
holding the Ash children up as models for the London children to
copy. I would certainly not do a thing like that."
Other parents stated that their children had told
them that the teachers had hot milk when the children had gone
without. "If any child went short," said Miss Wright,
"I did not know anything about it,"
Several of the mothers present complained of the
lack of religious instruction at the school, but the chairman,
Mr. Storer, ruled that the private religious life of the
teachers was not the business of the meeting. He suggested,
however, that the mothers should form a deputation to wait on
the Rector.
The London teachers were not present at the
meeting, and there was some difference of opinion as to whether
they were entitled to be present or not. Many of the parents
present had themselves been taught by Miss Wright and strongly
supported her retention.
LETTERS OF COMPLAINT
It was further alleged that local residents had written letters
of complaint about Miss Wright to the Kent Education Committee.
On the advice of the chairman, however, the letters were not
read.
Stress was laid on the fact that no actual
complaints about the evacuated teachers had been made to the
proper authorities. On the other hand, it was pointed out that
such complaints would have come back as a "boomerang"
on Miss Wright as the responsible head mistress.
Ultimately, the following resolution was carried
unanimously: "That this meeting express its deep
appreciation and gratitude to Miss Wright for her long and
strenuous service to the children, and requests that her
services should be retained. A copy of this resolution should be
forwarded to the school managers and the Kent Education
Committee." |