THE KOKIRI SCHOOL.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 16 April 1901, Page 4

THE KOKIRI SCHOOL.

{To tho Editor.)

Sir,—Will you allow mo to pass a few remarks re the Kokiri school pupil teachers appointment. T was very pleased to sec Uitlander'a letter and thoroughly endorse what ho says. I have studiously perused tho Act, and as far as I read it'the committee havo not the power to recommend, neither has the Inspector any right to nominate a pupil teacher, only upon tho advice from tho head teacher, who, according to Regulation 7, shall consider with the Inspector as to the fitness of the candidate, and upon their joint recommendation the Board shall make the appointment, and who, sir, should bo better able to judge as to tho fitness or otherwise of a candidate than the Head Teacher ? Besides Miss Cunningham, the Head Teacher's nominee has not only had charge of a school before but has testimonials to show that she is competent to fulfil the duties required of of a pupil teacher. Not so with Miss Stephenson, who only passed tho Sixth Standard some three years ago, when she left school, end as far as I am aware has had no experience as a teacher since. Now, sir, I do not wish to favour one more than another, but I wish to sec the school go forward, and maintain that to do this, experience either in a pupil teacher or Head Teacher is a necessary qualification for the same, and as this is what I would call a one-room school the appointment of a pupil teacher not competent to fulfil tho duties required of her would tend to hinder rather than assist the progress of the scholars, and by so doing materially harass the Head Teacher in her endeavours to train up the children, as Bhe would if she had the assistance _of one capable of undertaking tho position required of a pupil teacher. Again, sir, I would ask how could the Inspector judge as to the fitness of Miss Stephenson, seeing that, as far as I am aware, he (the Inspector) only passed her on one occasion through tho Sixth Standard, about three yca v s ago. Had he been a local man I should certainly uphold his recommendation, for I should feel confident that ho was able to judge as to the fitnes3 of tho candidate. Do you not think Mr Eiditor, that the Board were overstepping the mark in doing as they did, and as it were ignoring an old and well tried servant of some nine years standing, in not communicating with her before making any appointment, and ascertaining what her reasons were for recommending Miss Cunningham. Unfortunately, the Board have the teachers so hemmed in, that communication with them (the Board) is almost impossible unless through the Committee, and should they (the Committee) be hostile to tho teachers, a big chance they have of giving their views against tiro Committee. I for one, am not at all surprised at the way a good many of the teachers arc leaving the service for other means of earning a livelihood, while this state of tilings exist. As far as I can see, Mr Petrie is the only member of the Board who seems to be able to thoroughly grasp the situation by recommending, as he did, that the appointment stand over until the Inspector arrived and conferred with the Head Teacher in ike matter. Trusting Mr Editor I have not encroached too much upon your valuable space. —I am etc., Fair Play. Totara Flat, April 15th 1901.