PARENT-TEACHER ASSN.

Opotiki News, Volume X, Issue 1049, 25 November 1947, Page 2

PARENT-TEACHER ASSN.

CONTROVERSIAL SUBJECTS DISCIPLINE ON BUSES 1 » The bi-monthly general meeting of the Opotiki Parent-Teacher Association was held in the Infant School last week, the president, Mr. J. T. Rocf presiding. The meeting, for the greater part, consisted of explanations given by the headmaster, Mr. 11. Cox, -to several questions which have been the source of a good deal of misunderstanding in the past. Mr. Cox said that some v:f the subjects put down for discussion were the subject of a circular letter to parents, issued by the committee. The chairman of the School Committee, Mr. W. J. Inskip. and the headmaster'had been equally concerned over some of the matters.

The question of bus discipline was one which constituted a real problem in the school. The bus operators were prepared to contract for the carriage of pupils, but the drivers did not consider it part of their duty to be responsible for the discipline on the bus. Parents had complained to him as they were entitled to, provided the complaint was a justified one. The answer of bus drivers was that they would rather drive a truck. The buses were old and the driving of them required no mean skill at the present time. This threw the responsibility for the discipline onto him. It was difficult to get parents to appreciate his point of view, continued Mr. Cox. The', drivers had their instructions as to what courses of action they might take. They could stop and admonish the pupil and if the offence happened a second time they could be put out to walk. If anything happened to the pupil it was the Board’s responsibility. The drivers were supposed to report to him any cases of misconduct, but in 3i years there had been only one complaint handed in. There had,been a number of complaints from parents many of which were justifiable. He had put senior pupils in charge to accept responsibility, but they were not keen on it. The chairman of the School Committee also received , a lot ot complaints on the matter. One solution was that the buses should be owned and maintained by Road Services and teachers should be paid to drive them. ' The question was a very tlujrny one, and if the co-oper-ation of all parents and drivers could be gained the problem would be solved. Air. Cox suggested that steps might be taken to decentralise schools and re-establish the smaller school, but that was educationally unsound. While the buses had certificates of fitness there was not much that could be done about their condition. Everybody had heard the story of the 1 pig crate and the “hearse”.

Mr. Inskip said that ever since the buses came into use there had been trouble. In view of the many complaints from parents, it had been decided to issue a circular letter to parents. Tho Committee was using every effort to get the buses as good a possible. Representations to Rotorst bad met with no success. He asked parents to consider complaints before they .put them through and find out the rights and wrongs, as some complaints had proved frivilous. Mr. R. A. Porter considered that

it would be a very grave step to make any recommendation to go back to the eld country schools. Mr. Cox’s suggestion to have teacher drivers would be a good one if it could be worked. Mr. ]>. L. Abbot spoke in favour of having senior pupils in charge to report to the headmaster. Mr. Cox said that that arrangement existed, but .senior pupils living in the same district showed a certain amount of diffidence.. Mrs. Stansbury asked if it would not be possible for a teacher to travel on the bus. She said that some of the senior pupils were the worst offenders. Mr. Cox said that lie could not undertake that. It would be a difficult matter ‘ for a 'teacher to be placed in a position where lie had to live anywhere in particular.

Mr. Calvert said that he knew of one conveyance which tried to leave the school at 3.15. The bus was frequently late because one family kept it waiting. Mr. Inskip said that the School Committee had decided at its lastmeeting to put the matter before tlic Education Board, having previously gone to Road Services. Mr. Isdalc said that the buses were hopelessly overcrowded. _tho pupils being packed like sardines. The public should press for better buses. Mr. lnskip said that what Mr. Isdalc had said was true and the Committee had been pressing for larger buses for years. Some of the boys carried were larger than adults. Mrs. Stansbury said that if the drivers did their duty it would be

the solution. Air. Hoe said that the trouble was that the drivers would not take the responsibility. All;. A. MacDonald suggested the drastic action of parents getting together and keeping their children home as a protest. Mr. Abbot said that an expression of opinion from the meeting to be passed on to the Education Board would be helpful. It was moved by Mr. Inskip and seconded by Mr. Cox that the Board be asked if it could suggest any means of improving tho bus service’.—Carried.