TEACHERS AND EDUCATION BOARD.

Auckland Star, Volume XLII, Issue 147, 22 June 1911, Page 9

TEACHERS AND EDUCATION BOARD.

REPLY TO CRITICISM. At the Auckland Education Board meeting yesterday the Chairman (Mr. G. J. Garland) made a reply to a. sub-leader which appeared in the Airddand K Star" on 17th iuat., under the heading, "A llatter of Justice." He read the following statement, -which the Board approved and authorised him to forward to the journal:— The article is moat guarded, yet it wonld make it appear that the Board of Education had not done its duty in the past by (its teachers. It does sometimes happen that Committees -write to the Board, making complaint against the teacher, and the practice of the Board is when a charge against a teacher is deemed worthy of consideration to send a. copy of the complaint to the teacher and ask for an explanation. It would appear from the "Star's" article that the public are to believe that the Board do not act as I have stated. Let mc say that the charge, if charge is intended by the "Star," is quite contrary to fact. I am pleased to say that no "backstairs intrigues or secret accusations" are encouraged toy the Board, either against the Board's teachers or the School Committees, as the "Star's" article suggests. Any person who considers he has a grievance upon questions affecting his child, the school, the teacher, or committee, of Ms district, has the right to communicate with the Board. The Act provides for this, and very -wisely too. But for the "Star" to suggest that the public are to believe that the Board, "not infrequently receive communications from school committees" in Tegard to the •conduct or character of teachers, and that the teachers are not necessarily acquainted with the charges brought against them," is, as it stands, an incorrect statement. It was explained by members thxtt complaints made, if considered of sufficient importance to justify action, were forwarded for reply to ■ the persons against whom they were directed, and the matter was fully inquired into afterwards by the Inspectors and Board.