UNFORTUNATE RIFT

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 10, Issue 97, 21 February 1947, Page 5

UNFORTUNATE RIFT

HEADMASTER AND COMMITTEE REFUSAL TO ATTEND MEETINGS The absence of the Headmaster (Mr I. Hubbard) from the meeting- of the Whakatane School Committee last Wednesday evening caused considerable comment among members. The position was not helped by the reading of a letter from Mr Hubbard, intimating that it was not his intention of attending further meetings until such time as the committee was able to behave las other school committees. The secretary (Mr J. H. Duthie) read a copy of his letter extending a special invitation to the Headmaster to attend, in order that an open and frank discussion could be en- \ gaged in, with a view to rectifying the unfortunate differences which had arisen. With the Board’s sanction and desire the committee was anxious to secure the same friendly basis of co-operation with the staff, which had previously obtained.

Objection to Press

The Headmaster in his written reply left no room for doubt as to his feelings on the matter. He objected strongly to the committee’s use of the ‘press’ at meetings, and instanced what he termed a disparaging report which had appeared in the Auckland dailies. He took strong exception to the chairman’s action in asking a member of his staff to furnish a report, which Was entirely a matter for himself. The teachr ing staff, he added, had requested a special meeting in order to discuss the actions of the committee, as it was felt that in return for all the staff had done, they had only received criticism and discourtesy, and never a word of appreciation.. He (the writer) had now 34 teachers under his control a heavy responsibility in itself, and felt that in view of the present circumstances he could not carry on attending meetings where he was subject to slights and insults. Cleaning of School The unfortunate affair was set out in a previous letter from the Headmaster, written before .the school holidays when the question of cleaning and sweeping the school was instanced by Mr Hubbard. This work which had been previously undertaken by the pupils under the supervision of the staff was objected to strongly, and the teachers were not willing to accept the responsibility any longer. It was not part of the teachers duties to take part in the cleaning of the school! He objected also to the .committee’s handling of money matters! * Chairman’s Views

Discussing the position the chairman said he took the strongest objection to the allegation that he had asked a teacher for a report. He had merely happened to meet a new Domestic Science teacher and had in passing asked her to jot down the things which she considered she still needed in the new block, with a view to obtaining them for her. It was never intended to be or classed

as a report. The press, said Mr Wilson, had been invited to attend meetings at the request of the Headmaster himself, and their reports could only be classed as unbiassed and correct in every detail. The school owed a debt of gratitude to the press for the publicity it had given to school affairs generally. If there had been any disparaging implications it had bsen with regard to himself. The question of the teachers supervising the cleaning of the school, had been likewise introduced at the express representations of the Headmaster, who had led the committee to be-

lieve that the teaching staff was ready and willing to undertake it. The committee had acted in perfect good faith, and if there was any fault it lay with the Headmaster not with the committee.

Mr Lysaght: It looks as if the matter has been misrepresented somewhere. We handed it over to the staff at the Headmaster’s request. Now that it does not suit, we have engaged a cleaner, so I think the matter is closed. Attitude of Staff Committeemen in a general discussion said that they could not feel that the staff as a whole was antagonistic to them. There had never been any hint of dissatisfaction when members went round as a visiting committee, and as far as members could recollect all requests for amenities or additional facilities had been met. The Headmaster’s allegations of criticism of and discourtesy to the staff' were resented, and in the words of Mr Paterson, classed as ‘downright untrue.’ ■lt was agreed, that there might have been some element of resentmient among staff members, regard-

ing the stand made against the extra holiday which was requested following the School Fair. In this matter speakers agreed that they had been justified in their attitude which furthermore had been backed up by the Board.

The allegation that the committee had not been active in raising funds to assist forward school development, as other committees ‘which had raised thousands’, was refuted by the chairman who declared that every member was intensely interested in the school and its progress and had readily participated in all local efforts. Apart from administrating the school allocations and cooperating in the manner of development he did not think it was the recognised duty of a committee to raise funds, though he felt that the opportunity would never be shirked by the committee if it ever occurred. No member had ever spared himself in the interests of the school.

Attempt to Mediate

The question of overcoming the present ‘impasse’ was discussed by several speakers, who declared that there was only one method, and that lay in bringing both parties together and engaging in a frank and open discussion. It was the accepted and commonsense method, but was impossible while the Headmaster adhered to his present attitude of aloofness. The possibility of the committee meeting the teachers and '.learning their grievances, was suggested, but this too was deemed to be beyond the powers of the committee, as the teaching staff was answerable to the Education Board alone. On Mr Paterson’s motion it was finally decided to write the Board requesting that Mr A. Bell, of Tauranga, representative for the Bay of Plenty ward, be appointed to visit Whakatane for the purpose of mediating between the Committee and the Headmaster, and overcoming if possible the present state of estrangement. The secretary was also instructed to write the Headmaster acquainting him of the committee’s decision.