ABSENT WITHOUT LEAVE.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 5141, 20 June 1927, Page 2

ABSENT WITHOUT LEAVE.

CASE OF SCHOOL TEACHERS.

DISCUSSION BY AUCKLAND BOARD

The powers of education boards in dealing with teachers who absent themselves -from duty without leave were discussed at the meeting of the Auckland Education Board last week, when a recent case at Hawke’s Boy concerning the suspension of a teacher who was absent from duty was brought under notice. The Education Department forwarded an opinion on the case from the Crown Law Office, which stated that dismissal was only justified in cases of ver?’ serious misbehaviour. The department considered that if a teacher wilfully absented himself from duty the board was justified in punishing him by censure and b.v loss of stilary, and in the event of a repetition of the offence even dismissal might be justified.

The- chairman, Mr A. Burns : It is now evident that teachers can take holidays without being dismissed. If 1 were teaching I would be inclined to go on holiday if it only meant loss of salary. I think that some change should be made in the Act, If all teachers took it into their heads to go away it would disorganise the whole system. The case which had brought up the question was explained by Mr Burns. He said a teacher under the Hawke’s Ba.v Board had obtained lioliday leave and had gone to Australia. She had taken an extra day’s holiday, ami when she returned she was suspended b.v the. Hawke’s Bay Board. As a result of representations by the Teachers’ Institute she was reinstated. On the motion of Mr W. J. Campbell it was decided to ask the Minister of Education to bring down legislation giving boards definite powers in dealing with teachers.