"REFUGE FOR THE DESTITUTE."

Taranaki Daily News, 15 August 1919, Page 6

"REFUGE FOR THE DESTITUTE."

APPOINTMENT OP SCHOOL TEACHERS., ' • At yesterday's meeting of the Education Board, Mr. Trimble caused the members some surprise and not a littln amusement, when he referred to the report on the work of a certain teacher, who did not teach singing, physical culture, nature studies, needlework, handwork, and such subjects. Mr. Trimble asked what was the use of employing teachers who could not do the work required, and he protested against such appointments. "Our schools,-are simply becoming a refuge for the destitute," said Mr. Trimble. Men who could do nothing else were given jobs by the Board, simply because they were Men The trouble in the present case was that the teacher could not teach the subjects which were most essential.

The What would you do with him—dismiss him? Mr. Trimble: Yes. The chairman: -Are you prepureo. to do that?

Mr. Trimble: Yes. I move that he I be given three months' notice that his services would not be Tequired. Continuing, Mr. Trimble said the teaching of reading and writing and such things was easy, and this was what the teacher was doing, and neglecting tlu> other subjects—those that counted in the development of the characters of the children. "Any idiot," said Mr. Trimble, "could teach reading and writing." (Laughter.) They were learned in the ordinal- course of things. A. men- interjected that the appointmei). .as no doubt made on the recommendation of the Teachers' Selection Committee. "Of which Mr. Trimble is a member," suggested another member, amidst renewed laughter. "On the recommendation of the inspector," remarked Mr. Trimble. , The chairman said he thought Mr. Trimble was not quite fair in quoting only part of the report. The remarks on the subjects of reading, writing, arithmetic, grammar, geography, etc., were "fair" to "very good!" The order and discipline of the. school were also favourably commented upon. Referring tothe subjects not taught, Mr. Masters said a man could hardly be expected to teach sewing, and it was not possible for everybody to teach singing. "It would be very hard for me, for instance," remarked the speaker. Mr. Masters thought, taking "the inspector's report as a whole, it ( showed the teach# was doing very good work. Mr. White said that though he could not agree with Mr. Trimble, or support his motion, the question opened up the policy of the board in appointing uncertificated teachers to these positions. Mr. Smith referred to the report of the Teachers' Selection Committee at the time the appointment was made, and said the resolution to appoint the teacher in question was actually moved by Mr. Trimble himself.

A member: It's very unkind of you to refer to that report. Mr. JWmhle again reiterated that it was on the recommendation of the inspector. "Inspectors do recommend these idiotic things," remarked the speaker.. ~ Mr. Morton (senior inspector), who was invited to reply to Mr. Trimble, said he had never before heard that reading, writing, and arithmetic were not essential subjects. The three "R's" still held good, and conformed with the policy of the department. It was sometimes necessary to curtail work in the more secondary f subjects in order- to bring a school up to a satisfactory standard in what were regarded as the most important subjects. He stated that so far as nature study work was concerned that could be often taught in conjunction with lessons on geography and drawing. In regard to not teaching physical' culture, he pointed out that the teacher referred to. at the time of his appointment, had just re ; covered from a somewhat serious accident, and was 1 in that respect at a disadvantage. No doubt in time that would be overcome. The subjects not taught merely represented a temporary phase of the school work, which on the inspector's report, was generally regarded as very good. As a matter of fact, when the appointment was made there was no one better to choose from. Th? school to which the teacher was appointed, had had several changes of teachers and required working up at that time. With the inspector's explanation the incident ended. '