NO CONSIDERATION SHOWN

Evening Star, Issue 22149, 2 October 1935, Page 2

NO CONSIDERATION SHOWN

FORCED RESIGNATION OF SCHOOL HEAD MASTER ST. GLAIR RESIDENTS INDIGNANT To give expression to the feeling of indignation existing as a result of the Eudcation Board’s action in resigning the head master in the last term, the most critical in the school year, the St. Clair School Committee called a meeting of householders in the school hall last night. The chairman of the committee (Mr R. C. Love) presided. It was stated that the committee had taken the matter up with the board several months ago, but had not received any satisfaction. After some discussion a deputation was appointed to protest to the board, while a motion of protest against the school being left without a permanent _ head master in the last term was carried. “ This meeting has been called to place before you certain facts connected with the retirement of the ex-head master and the appointment of his successor,” said the Chairman, in explaining the purpose of the meeting, it was the opinion of- the committee that the principle involved was contrary to the welfare of the school. The facts briefly were that early this year the commitee was' notified by the head master that he would be due for retirement at the end of the second term. The committee considered the matter, and decided to write to the Education Board asking that, if possible, lus retirement bo postponed until the end of the school year. The reply received stated that the hoard had decided there did not appear to be any special circumstances making it necessary to comply with the request, and adding that a change of head master in the last term would not really be detrimental to any of the pupils. The committee then asked that d new head master be appointed in time to commence his duties at the beginning of the new term. _ IMo further communication was received from the board until approximately three weeks before the end of the last term,' when the speaker was verbally notified that the present head master would be allowed to continue until the end of the school year. During the vacation it was learned verbally that the head master was to finish at the end of September, although lus successor had not been appointed. The committee again protested to the board, and asked it to consider the welfare of the school, and allow its previous decision to stand. In its reply the board stated that it had decided it could not see its way to continue the head master after September 30. The first assistant would, be asked to act as relieving head master and a relieving teacher would he sent to help him. The speaker went on to say that the position to-day was that a new head master had been appointed but ho could not commence his duties before December 1. In the meantime the first assistant had been appointed acting head master, and a relieving teacher had been appointed to the sixth standard. This meant that for the critical two months preceding the proficiency examinations the first assistant would be unable to be with his own class. Ihe committee had every confidence m him, but it did hot approve of the principle of unnecessary changes at a criti- ■ cal period. It had ,been fold that the board had' the power to avoid the change, but that it made the change deliberately. It was contended that the interests of the children should not be prejudiced by a regulation, which, ■ he understood, was of the boards own making. It was felt .that the policy of changes in the staff, especially the higher teachers, in the last term was contrary to the best interests of the school, and should be discontinued. He emphasised the fact that this protest was not to be regarded as personal in anyway. . , , ~ Mr G. Warrington, a member of the committee, said that the chairman s outline of the position was very clear, but therefore one or two other points he wished to add. He considered the board had treated the committee very discourteously. It _ had not answered som© of the committee’s letters, and any information the committee could get was verbal until three weeks before the end of the term. The committee had three things to consider—the interests of the children, the interests of the school, and its own interests. If the Sixth Standard pupils suffered as a result of the board’s action in retiring the head master at this time of the year, it alone would be _ responsible. The head master who had just been retired had had little or no consideration from the board, which had asked him to carry on. He had agreed to the proposal to remain until the end of the year, and had then received 10 days’ notice of his retirement last Monday. The board had given very scant consideration to an old and respected servant. It should have adopted a broader outlook instead of being governed by the regulation that' was made for a time of emergency. If the board was going to say it was not detrimental to the Sixth' standard pupils to act in the manner it had, said Mm H. Halliday, then it did .not know much about education. An authority had stated that if a child missed on his first attempt to gain proficiency, there was not much chance for him later. That was a very serious matter, and therefore the children should bo helped as much as possible at the right time. Ho suggested that the householders should take the matter into their own hands and appoint a deputation to wait on the hoard and voice a protest. Other speakers agreed with this suggestion, and Mr Halliday then added that if the householders approached the board it would be possible to have the head master hack next week. On the motion of Mr A. W. Triggs, it was then decided that a deputation representing the committee and the householders wait upon the board to protest against the present disorganising of the school. Later Messrs H. Halliday, A. W. Triggs, Mrs Jones, and Mrs Sutherland were appointed to the deputation. _ , Finally, it was decided that an emphatic protest be made to the Education Board and the School Committees’ Association against the School being left without a permanent head master (in the last term.