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Hokitika Guardian, 21 April 1921, Page 2

The matter of the publication of inspectors’ reports on schools was raised at the local householders’ meeting on Monday night. There seems to t>e a conspiracy of silence on the subject connived at by the Education Board and the Teachers’ Institute whereby thc> reports in question are treated as •‘strictly confidential,” and do not see

the* light ol : day beyond the executive circle. If there are any legitmate objections to the reports being published on the lines which have been suggested, •such for instance as the competitive spirit ci'Cntod and the possible injustice to a teacher where for some untoward cause, ill results accrue, then there is equally good reason why the reports should not be prepared at all, and applying that logic to the position, tin l fallacy of the objection is at once apparent. A teacher soon ascertains the contents of the report, and in seeking preferment at any time utilises the good points in the reports, while any failings arc lost sight of. But we maintain that it is not the feeling of the teachers which should be considered in this matter, for the public interests are superior to all that. Neither do we think that any self-respecting teacher who performs his or her duty in the thorough manner which is invariably followed by the teachers as a profession, has any desire to withhold from the public a fair measure or estimate of the scholastic work performed. The education system costs a mint of money, and the public should have some independent means of ganging the

efficiency value of the expenditure, public company may not suppress ii annual reports. Indeed they must 1 | circulated among the shareholder j while in respect to a public body i ; balance sheet must be published broa< cast. How much more then sliou the work pertaining to the edueatii Of the rising generation be review! in an ‘open and public way so tin there will he the opportunity of cst mating the value of each suecessn year’s work. In times past under a di ferent regihte, the reports were pu lished, and they were instructive and i imhinating. The successful teacher r i ceived the advantage of the publicit; and in enconiums passed received i small measure of reward for the serve performed. As regards the suggestk of competition, that is the incentive 1 success in any walk in life The who course of school work is competitive The tests are the numerous examin; tions held throughout the year, ar the scholars who succeed the best, ai naturally proud of the results and tl eminence and position gained. T 1 teacher has feelings equally akin to tl scholar, and is naturally proud of tl pupils as they make good. Their suits reveal the solid character of tl work put in l>v the teacher, and if aft* a year’s drudgery of teaching the ma ter is not going to get any outsiri praise for the work, it is reasonable f believe that the fact will have a dullin •effect on the teacher’s enthusiasm. Thei will he less ambition to try,new method in the aim to secure better result! ; There will be a levelling down in th profession rather than a building uj: Tho craft will lose its goal, and becom more of a routine business than a pre fession to excel in. There seems to u to he every reason in the interest of all concerned why all annual re ports of school work should ho opei for public information and open criti cism, if education is to fully intcies the public. The battle for the southern bridge; still goes on. At the Progress Leagui meeting this week, this most urgen district matter was not lost sight of and the three principal bridges reaHired oil the main road route, had special mention. In regard to the Waitang river, the League is urging that fresh tenders lie called fo the work. Tenders were invited previously without eliciting a response, and though in the interim negotiations went on with a onrt.v of men to undertake the erection of the bridge, nothing has so far resulted. It is understood there is some difficulty about securing the timber required locally. The suggestion is now made that fresh tenders be invited, the belief being that the present time would be a. more opportune period to secure the attention of possible tenderers. The bridging of the Waitangi crossing has

an important bearing on the south run for motor traffic. The crossing is a soft one, and this is the chief drawback rather than the depth of water. Motor transport is often seriously interrupted at this point, and for the convenience of the travelling public a permanent bridge crossing cannot be installed too soon. The league further supports the proposal of the Chamber of Commerce for a temporary low level bridge at the -Little Wanganui river ford. Tlie erection of the main bridge is likely to lie seriously delayed, not alone owing to the shortage of labour hut for tho difficulty in procuring material. There is now the stringency of tho Public Works fund, which will be a serious drawback to a work of the magnitude of the main road bridge

and the long and costly road approaches which will require to he made by way of deviation. As there will be many months, if not years delay in the realisation of hopes for the erection of this extensive work, the alternative is a temporary low level structure at the ford crossing to permit of light wheel trafficin all lint abnormal flood time. This is worth doing for the sake of the southern traffic- if the cost is not too high. In regard to the Waits ha. bridge erection has just been commenced, hut it is calculated it will he upwards of a year before the bridge and approaches will be ready for traffic. Meantime tho League is asking for improvements to the river ford crossing. The weir put in has had the ofTect of deepening the ford, and it is desired that this be corrected. These are. all matters of special import to the large and increasing volume if traffic going south, and attended to will he of great service the travelling public and the local residents.