SCHOOL CONCERTS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1534, 2 September 1912, Page 4

SCHOOL CONCERTS.

VIEWS OP HEADMASTERS. An inquiry into tho various aspects of school entertainments as they afteet the | regular work of a sclwol was recently instituted by the Wellington Headmasters' Association, which set up a special subcommittee to prepare a report upon the subject. It has long been tho feeling of headmasters that the extra work involved in tho organisation of these entertainments and tlio unrest created amongst the pupils who are being trained to take part in tho programme have not been fully appreciated by the publio, nor by the school committees. Tliero has been a tendency, tho headmasters think, to regard such work as part o£ a teacher's duty, any refusal or disinclination to assist ; in the preparation of these entertainments boiug looked upon as an indication of lack of sympathy and interest on the part of tile teacher. The association has therefore concludcd that before this idea becomes permanently established in tlie public mind, some expression of opinion, conveying tho considered judgment of tlia Headmasters' Association, should be published. This opinion finds expression in the following resolution, adopted at the recent annual meeting of the association: "That, as teachers often find a difficulty in refusing tho, request of school committees to get up school concerts, the following be mado known as tho policy of the Headmasters' Association: 'That6chool concerts, being always detrimental to the work of the schools, should.be discouraged, whenever possible, and that;, none should be given for raising funds for picnics or prizes; that in cases of urgenoy, whero it is necessary that, mone.v should ho raised for soecific purposos, items of ordinary school" work, , such as physical'exercises, club or fancy drill, and a school song or two, should be added to a programme arranged, and carried out by the school committees.'"