PUBLISHING SCHOOL REPORTS.

Hokitika Guardian, 29 April 1921, Page 1

PUBLISHING SCHOOL REPORTS.

(To the Editor)

Sir, —My attention has been drawn to an editorial in your issue of the 21st inst, relating to the non-publication of inspectors’ reports on schools. May I be permitted a few words of explanation ?

You are no doubt aware that in years gone by the publication of these reports was fairly general. One Board of Education after another saw the undesirable results that very often followed from the publication, and in consequence put an end to it. Finally, the accumulated general opinion against ■publication was registered in the regulation that makes the reports confidential to School Committees. The reasons that led up to this step were not so much the operation of the competitive spirit among teachers as the evils that arose in other directions. Teachers are not afraid of competition, as witness their voluntarilv submil!'

themselves to the efficiency test through the grading list. Some of the evils of publication may he mentioned. In those days the School Committees had a good deal more to do with the appointment- and removal of teachers than they have now, and it not infrequently happened that an unfavourable report, or even an unfavourable phrase in a report, might he seized upon and made use of for purposes quite apart from the purpose of the report. There is no need at tliis late day to do more than mention that aspect of the matter. Another, and more serious one is this. It is a maxim in affairs of discipline that seniors should not he reproved in the presence of juniors, or, if it is preferred, superiors in the presence of inferiors. The publication of a consure of a teacher had injurious effecton the standing of the teacher, both in the school and in the community. The result was that the inspectors in certain cases did not feel free to report on a school as they might have done, since they knew that the report, when published might- be turned to wrong uses. Thus schools and teachers alike lost the benefit of skilled criticism. The removal of this fear lias set the inspectors free, and schools, teachers and pupils have all gained by the change. ■The righl of the public to know of the condition of the schools is amply protected. In the first place there is the School Committee representing the parents immediately concerned, whose duty it is to draw the attention of the responsible authority, the Education Board, to anything in the report that may call for action by that body. Overlooking the affairs of the whole district is the Education Board, before which all reports come, and between which and the inspectors close touch is maintained. Every year the reports of the inspectors, the Boards on the condition of education in the district, and of the Minister of Education on the educational progress of the Dominion, arc published in Parliamentary papers which are open to every member of the public who is interested. It is difficult to sec what further publicity of a desirable kind could be given, especially when the Press is always on the alert to keep the public informed of the trend of public affairs. It is no more desirable that the report of a school inspector into the minutiae of the internal work of a school should he published than that a similar report on the deluded work of the post office or the railway station should he—less, indeed, for every school has its committee to maintain connection between the school and the public.

I am etc., H. H. PARKINSON, Secretary, N.Z.E.I Wellington, April 25th, 1921.