PROTEST OF HEAD MASTERS.

Hokitika Guardian, 2 April 1924, Page 4

PROTEST OF HEAD MASTERS.

REPLY TO MINISTER. RECENT STATEMENT ALLEGEDLY BIASED. WELLINGTON, March 31 Replying in tho Press to the statement of the Minister of Education (the Hon C. J. Parr), which was sent per [boss Association from Christchurch on Friday, the Wellington Head Maxers’ Association considers that the statement was biased. The whole trend of the association’s discussion with the Minister, it is argued, was a pica for the eaiicllation of regulations.

An invitation was received from the .Minister, through the Director of Education (Mr ,J. Caughley), to discuss new regulations, but when the association accepted the invitation, the head masters state they were treated

as a deputation. Their speaker was not allowed to deliver the first part of his statement and they say he was subjected to frequent and disconcerting interruptions. The association treats the argument as fallacious, that because (he head teacher of a school of 409 children teaches all his time, therefore the head teacher of the largest school should he able to teach half his time. It states that the hardest school to conduct successfully is the former, and tho toucher in charge is tied down to his class and has to do what the Department is not willing to do. He has to trust to his subordinates to do their job. The association contends that the inspectors have reported that the efficiency of any of these schools has suffered because ol the inability ol the bead teacher to devote sufficient time t,, general supervision anil to the civic life of the school.

The statement asserts that Mr hosier has been misrepresented; that was only when the -Minister gave his own, and not the Department’s definition of the word “leaching.” Mr Foster remarked that the definition included examination work, and he had taught four hours out ol five and was able to do so because ho not only started work early, but he also took the work homo and spent hours in getting it completed.

"The association stresses the point that ii is no nrgumonl to say that because a few head masters are shirking their duly the regulations are necessary. Shirkers should he on a graded list and. if necessary, removed from their positions. An efficient head teacher should bo allowed to conduct liis school as his experience has taught him it can best he conducted, and not lie made an automaton by regulation. The association urges that head masters of long experience might as a body well be trusted to do their In-sl in I heir own wav for the young lives placed in their care.”

The association’s statement notes that the .Minister ignored the latter part of its criticism and that be stressed only one point and did not allude to the other objectionable lentuivs, nor to the general trend ol the whole. It concludes with an earnest appeal to the Minister whole-heartedly to withdraw those impracticable and undesirable regulations, and assures him that he will find that the great body of teachers will meet bis trust "itli 1 rust worthiness.