No Publicity Man For Educational Institute

Press, Volume C, Issue 29510, 11 May 1961, Page 6

No Publicity Man For Educational Institute

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON. May 10. A move, originating with the Wellington branch, to have a senior professional adviser in charge of publicity added to the head office staff of the New Zealand Educational Institute was defeated at the annua] meeting of the institute. Presenting a report on behalf of the Dominion executive. Mr J. D. Brown (Otago) said publicity for teachers must be regarded as a longterm policy.

No matter what efforts were made in the fields of press or radio publicity and by the head office, the teaching profession and its needs and aspirations were finally judged at the local level at which point most work had 1 to be done in securing good public relations, he said. "We are engaged in one of the biggest and most important businesses in the country and yet we are without a co-ordinated policy of public relations.” said Mr A. G. M. Holms, of Auckland The institute had not one officer at a high level responsible for answering criticism.

Mr K. J. McNaughton

(North Canterbury) said he would hate to see in the head office a man whose salary depended on how much publicity he secured for teachers. Criticism hurt, but teachers were dealing with w+iat people were most sensitive about—their children.

Mr J. Nesbitt, vice-presi-dent, said there was a great danger of confusing the need to reply to criticism with the building of a good climate of public feeling toward teachers.

The following amended remit was adopted:

"That the institute continue its effort* concerning public relations and treat the matter as urgent under the three headings: (1) publicity directed at members; (2> publicity directed at the public; (3) an aggressive rebuttal of unfair and illinformed criticism.”