|
Gravesend and Dartford Reporter 29/3/1940
UPROAR AT ASH MEETING
Head Teacher Resists Retirement.
The Annual Parish Meeting of Ash, which was held on Thursday
of last week at the Parish Hall, was the setting of some lively
proceedings which caused the Chairman (Mr. A. Storer) to be
continually on his feet. Before the meeting opened, he addressed
the full hall, and, remarking that he noticed large number of
people present who did not reside in the Parish, asked that all
but local government voters of Ash should leave the hall. This
evoked loud protests and shouts of " Our children attend
the school," "We want our teacher," and similar
comments.
The Clerk to the Council (Mr. C.B. Searle) then
announced that it was out of order for any but qualified voters
to be present, but, on its being made clear that only such
persons would be allowed to address the meeting and to vote, the
meeting was formally opened and an offer of the use of the Hall
for an open meeting, to follow the Parish Meeting, was greeted
with cheers.
The Charity Accounts, presented by Councillor
Goodwin, were discussed briefly, one or more minor questions
being quickly dealt with.
STORMY PASSAGES
The Chairman then passed on to "Other
Business," and an excited buzz ran round the hall.
The matter of the dismissal of the Head Teacher of
the Church School (Miss Wright) was then raised and, amid cries
of support, a parishioner called upon the Council to give the
reason.
Mr. Fred Goodwin, the Council’s representative on
the Board of School Managers, briefly stated that the Head
Teacher, having reached the age of voluntary retirement, the
Kent Education Committee had requested for her to retire. He
said that she had refused to do so, and he eventually had
instructions from the Education Committee that the school
managers were to inform her that it was the Committee’s wish
that teachers reaching voluntary retirement age should retire,
to make way for young teachers who were at present unemployed.
As this lady had not carried out their wish the Managers were to
give her the Committee’s formal notice of dismissal, under
which she was due to leave School on April 30th.
Then followed a stormy scene, in the course of
which the Managers were asked what steps they and the Parish
Council had taken to resist the Kent Education Committee’s
action. The meeting voiced in strong terms it’s disapproval of
"taking away a woman’s living after 27 years’ good
service." A voice: But what’s the real reason?
The Councillor-Manager: I have already told you. |
|
I can tell you no more than what the Kent
Education Committee told me.
Another voice: Isn’t it because of scandalous
letters which have been sent?
The Councillor: I can say no more. The Managers and
the Council had their orders from Maidstone, and they have no
powers whatsoever in the matter.
After further stormy passages, during which the
Chairman had repeatedly to call the meeting to order, a
proposition was made that the meeting’s confidence in and
gratitude to the Head Teacher be recorded, and that the Kent
Education Committee be requested to reconsider its decision.
Carried by 63 votes to 4.
PARISHIONERS MEET.
The Parish Meeting then closed, and the Open
Meeting followed, a motion merely to adjoin the former not being
seconded. Under the Chairmanship of Mr. Storer, who was invited
to remain in that position, the crowd settled down in its seats
in anticipation of more outspoken proceedings. Large numbers had
come from outlying parts, such as Stansted and Hartley.
The Head Teacher was invited to address the meeting
and to give her version of the events which had led up to the
notice of dismissal. In the course of this she referred at some
length to various small causes for complaint which had arisen
since the evacuation of London children to her school. She said
that, on the instructions of the Board of Education, she had
eventually had to mix the children and had taken the course of
following her staff, which included evacuated teachers, to
select their own classes.
Questions on matters regarding the milk supply for
the children and touching on the personal, religious and
political beliefs of a teacher were raised, and several loud
protests at alleged anti-Christian remarks made in the presence
of the children were voiced by several parents.
At this point, the meeting tended to digress and,
when it was suggested that a certain complaint be taken forward,
the speakers were advised to let the matter drop, as it might
have an effect adverse to the cause the meeting was supporting.
After further noisy and lively discussion, in the course
of which the subject of letters alleged to have been written was
again mentioned, a resolution similar to that of the Parish
Meeting was passed. A speaker at the close of the meeting hoped
that this time something would be done, and as they in Ash were
"still waiting for the dustmen." There is no refuse
collection in the Parish. The meeting broke up amid cheers for
the Head Teacher. |