PRIZES FOR DILIGENCE

Taranaki Daily News, 18 November 1926, Page 10

PRIZES FOR DILIGENCE

SCHOOLMASTER’S OBJECTION. APPLICATION TO BOARD FAILS. “That Mr. D. P. Evans be informed that lie is not required to award prizes contrary to his judgment, but that he is required to submit to the Central school committee the names of the two pupils who attained tho highest marks in the various subjects at the last examination.” The foregoing resolution was carried unanimously by the Taranaki Education Board yesterday on the motion of Mr. R. J. Deare, seconded by the Rev. J. L. A. Kayll. Mr. Evans had written asking to be relieved of the responsibility of carrying out the recent instructions of his committee “that for the purpose of making the usual awards the headmaster be asked for the following returns for each standard: The two top children, the two showing most improvement, and the two showing' the most diligence.” The board did not disecuss the matter. “I cannot conscientiously rely on my judgment in allocating prizes to the most deserving pupils without a sense of injustice towards Cjthers,” wrote Mr. Evans. “I make this appeal, not in defiance of the board’s authority, but in the hope that some means may be devised whereby I am not compelled to act against the dictates of conscience. The more experience I gain and the more I read the less necessity do I see for the award of prizes to secure the maximum effort from the pupils.”