NOTES ON EDUCATION.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 562, 17 July 1909, Page 7

NOTES ON EDUCATION.

(By: SooitATEs.) SCHOOL APPOINTMENTS. In last week's "Notes," the writer dealt at some length with certain aspects of the recent appointments to the staff of .the new, school at Petone West. To judge by theco'rrospoiidenco, which has.since been,received from teachers ..in various . 'parts of the district administered 'by the Wellington Education Board, and various conversations with) responsibio assistant-masters and head-masters-on this particular matter, there can be no doubt that the pernicious effects or the policy adopted by the board in affording school' committees a .deliberative choice in the selection of teachers, for vacant appointments is causing 'a feeling of dissatisfaction' and unrest throughout the district. The position was . concisely put by .one teacher, whoso identity need not be disclosed here. ■ • Ho said: I distinctly object to have my qualifications for any position publicly compared with others, to be discussed and argued over; in common with; matters ■of local controversy; as if I were a candidate for public patronago, intcad of a professional man seeking promotion by legitimate- means.; I should certainly not apply ;for any position where such an indignity, as was/put Upon the candidates: for Petone ; West School, seemed probable.; The Education 'Board is calling for applications for ■ the ucadmastership of Petone Main. School; the firsts assistantship will also have ■ to bet, filled. How- many 'self-respecting: men are prepared to undergo what thoso, who applied for Petone. West had to endure ? The whole; thing : is an utter farce. The. board has the power* under the Act, of practically making its own,appointments. Why doesn't it do so P Wo all know what happened at Maranui, , at. JJansdowno, and-at Petone' West. •'Shouldn't these-experiences,be sufficient for any.-board which'desires to retain the' confidence and" •loyalty of its teaohers? "I happen .to know," ho- concluded,-"that the ; boards' , are.'.'being- : very'closely watched by the Gbvernmont, icohcerning ' their methods 'of promoting teachers.: The boards, in fact, are on their last trial in this respect." ~;- y •,_. -;..', 'At least one member of the Wellington .Education Board-- (Mr. A:\ H..; Vile) has ;realised that the 'present condition of things Icanriot'endure, and has' given notice of mo- ; Won ■&*)'■■- the .'effect , that; the board. shall' in' -future'..send one name .only, .to-/the school committee' concerned in any particular appointment.'■ His . motion will come,.up for discussion at the; next meeting of. the board, and its fate" will be "studied with deep 'inter-' 'est: by; every .teacher in the .board's service. It is a step in the right direction--the aboli.tion"■: of. one/of, ; the; gravest iniquities .that ■teachers' have/eyer. had to'suffer under.,' ",, '-'■';'.■/■;■'"■" ; Temperance - - ' ■'■ Mr. Braiky inspector of schools under the Wanganui Education Board, was recently; asked ,, to submit; a report; on'-the question of systematically 'teaching the principles of'temperance, in-- the schools. The .Hon.: G. ■jFowlds (Minister for Education) ,had stated 'thaK the 'education .boards'.-.had ..full!'power to ,; introduce .temperance teaching.:in. State schools, and -'the! Wanganni'./Board ■ asked its. inspbctor.'howi that; could; , be done. In his report, Mr. Braik says:— ;;; V -.,V.-,' :'' : ..' : ''.'; ': " There is in the syllabuß,' ae. it now. stands, sufficient grounds to warrant one 'IMil; ; saying ;that.it is the duty 'of every.;V, ; teacher.to point but-.the.'evils. of. intern- ■; . perance,';and by precept and example to ■';' idemonetfate ( tho commanding superiority ; ;; of the temperate life and habit.-.ln their , ' /'lessons on 'Health,' teachers'are r 'rei ■squired: to/deal with food and drink-and ; 'their effect -on /the' stomach and diges- ; -ition; :; on.' tae- lessons :on; 'Morals .'>tney .'. ..are enjoined-to call attention to'thdjiin- : . '..portance'; of .the formation .of'correct.-: ■■' . : ;.,:habite. in '/eating ■ and drinking 1 .' ■ The ! les- ■ .son's 'on /-'Civics ? 'require tnat labour,'.■'capital,; and money should be .spoken: 0f,;., •rand there is here ample room for putting I-''■■■■forward a plea for temperance; by a're-' '■ .gulntion of.the board,.the instructresses : inrcooking 'are: required to. examine , the :-. ; merits of the l tea, cof- ' fee; and alcoholic drinks. Scientific tern-."-. !'' perance ]essons...7;,(experimdntß:• .in.■' the/'•" ! . production, and effects of alcholic drinks) , /■ .to.rbo'of any: scientific yaluo, would re-i ",;'-quire : material, apparatus,;and, a -know-/ , ■ ledge of physiologyj" physics, and chemi-, ; c'ale, beyond that possessed by even /the " most i; sciontifically ; iminded , of .-our; ■ . teachers:";'''■.• ~ ,:' ■'..' •■. ■'.'•"• '■ ■■'"■■ -■"..'■ 'The following was suggested as a circular .-' niemerandumv for . teachers:—l am directed by -the board to!call your attention to > the facilities' afforded. , in tliei .'ordinary course /'of instruction; for /the teaching/of the'principles of temperance, ajid to, request ■that you will '-.bear this .in mhid;'in' the following ./connection—(l) : InW your'-'coursoV of health lcßsOiis ;-you /willnhd-it possible-to call attentiwi'to'the effect , of the : 6x<ies&iTo use of alcoholon the physical organs; (2) in tho lessons on' morals you will call■■■α-tteri-;-tioiv to' , the , efF«ct that. the, excesoivo ■ uses' of,'strong drink has in blunting tho moral sensibility and /in deteriorating character; (3) in Jihe lessons on " Civics " you will impress upon your pupils the'effect of the. drink habit'upon tho productive capacity of a; nation with special reference to labour; capital,/and; money 1 . /'■■' ' :; /; ; ;■■.■■■ ,; '"