ROBYN PARKES
Following being blindsided at the Motupiko School committee elections by the actions of an opposing faction, a deputation from the ‘for’ faction met with the Education Board asking that the results be voided.
The Board found that the process was a farce, reducing the Act to absurdity, even more so in that not one of those elected had children attending the school.
However, nothing illegal had been done and they could not interfere. The Board met to discuss the situation, looking for solutions. Opinions were split when it was suggested sending Harrison Evans to another school. Some agreed, while others expressed the unfairness of this action.
Harrison was a capable teacher, there was no hint of misconduct, and he had the backing of the majority of the community, therefore should not be punished by having to leave the school. No consensus was reached.
The school committee, chaired by W Gibbs, refused to leave it there and brought more complaints concerning Harrison to the Education Board.
They stated that: Harrison was setting a trap for the children by leaving his cashbox in the schoolroom and yet the cashbox had been removed some time ago, that he disobeyed the committee by having a horse in the school ground after being told it was not allowed but it was proved that the horse belonged to children attending the school and the day after the committee notice was given another place was sourced for the horse, that he closed the school without permission and for no reason. This was on the 18 June, the Friday before Jubilee and by 10am no children had arrived for school, so Harrison left, taking advantage of an offer to be driven to Belgrove.
The last charge involved Harrison being told to attend committee meetings, which he did, but was asked to resign his position so refrained from attending future meetings. The Education Board felt it was hardly strange that he would absent himself due to the committee’s request. An exhaustive inquiry found that none of the charges had been proved.
The Committee were not prepared to accept the findings and asked that Harrison be sent to another school or dismissed. Mr Maginnity of the Education Board stated that the teacher was free from all blame, his ability had never been questioned, and it was time that the Board stepped in and protect its officers from these “local jealousies”.
Being tired of the ‘tin pot’ dispute, the Board hoped that the next elections would produce a better outcome for the school.
In early 1898, the school district boundaries were changed to accommodate the parents of children who attended the school but lived just outside the current boundaries, meaning they could not vote on school matters.
In April yet another issue occurred, when members of the school committee went onto the schoolhouse property, without consulting Harrison, and cut 10 feet off a poplar despite an order from the Education Board to leave the trees alone.
An angry Harrison called them villains and rogues and a few other choice words. Gibbs took Harrison to court for using threatening and insulting language, but the judge was not sympathetic, stating that Gibbs had acted in a high handed and insolent manner, and had acted illegally.
Anticipation was high when, a couple of weeks later, the next annual election for school committee members arrived. With the changing of the school boundaries the number of supporters for the teacher had grown. Around 50 people attended and none of the old committee were elected.
