PHYSICAL DRILL IN SCHOOLS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIV, Issue 185, 5 August 1913, Page 7

PHYSICAL DRILL IN SCHOOLS.

CTo the Editors Sir, —I was sorry to hear from a young enthusiastic teacher that a widespread feeling of utter diegust and indignation exists among the teachers at the present time, owing to the at-tion of the Board of Education in commanding every teacher to attend drill instruction on Saturdays. Conrmiuece are strongly protesting against the closing of the schools for a fortnight, to teach the teachers a little drill, tha-t could be acquired quite easily iv other wuys. The preseitt year has been disorganieed q-nite enough already; and with the exceptional absence through sickness, vaccination, etc. the ordinary school work, will suffer severely. But who cares so long a*= the children are moved up a class at •the end of the yeaT? Tteal education doe? n-ot count no>w-a-days. Well! the teachers have simply themselves to btame. They b-avo been so supine, so eorv=He, so cheerfully an.-riouK to please the Board and thus gain praise, co terrified to man-fully refuse to slavishly submit to such degradation, that the Board takes it for gran-ted that suoh an effeminate body of men and baekhonelcee women will eubmit to any treatment. The aeaiafcani teacherß are in strong rebellion, not open, mind you: and if all teachers, heads ac well an assistants, would unite and declare that they would not give up even one Saturday morning, the Board of Education would tamely submit. But wHI they show their manhood? No, they will not agree to united action, and so -they will fall. I ,am eurprieed the headmasters of Auckland have not taken their true poeit-ion. the lead, and requested the Board to withdraw their circular j-eJatm<r to Saturdays, a-nd by co doing support the assistance in maintaining the rigb-te of all teachers. •A lady teacher hae obtained the opinion of a very able la-wyer, who advises th:it the Board hae no legal claim on the time of a teacher on Saturdays. Teachers anpoiatmenta aTP stated to be, in accordance with the regulations, and co mention is there made of Saturday instruction or work. But eir, even if it were legal, teachers should decide now and at once, not to give up their Saturdays or a part of them. The life teachers live, their daily earroundinpe, their preparation for esame, their constant mental strain while ■teaching, the vitiated nir they breathe. the frequent petty crimpl-ainie. and now their yearly grading affect their physical and mental powers, lower their vitality, gradually robbing them of manhood: and bend -them like slavee to the will of any man or men wh-o for the time being are lucky enough to be chairman or members of out Education Board.—l am, etc. WELL WISHER. [The demand for attendance on Saturdays was withdrawn.—Ed.]