IN DEFENCE.

Auckland Star, Volume LV, Issue 114, 15 May 1924, Page 3

IN DEFENCE.

TEACHERS AND DEPARTMENT.

"MISTRUST AND SUSPICION."

STATEMENT BY N.Z.E.I. PRESIDENT.

A request for specific instances of certain general charges brought against the Education Department by the president of the Auckland branch of the New Zealand Educational Institute has been made by the Director of Education (Mr. J. Caughley). In a statement ma.de by the president (Mr. YV. H. Newton) at the quarterly meeting- of the Auckland branch to-day, tlie views held by teachers in the Auckland province were explained at some length. Mr. Newton prefaced his statement by reviewing the circumstances which led to his action in -writing to the Auckland newspapers last March, traversing the position with regard to educational matters in relation to teachers. Mr. Caughley had now written asking that specific instances be given of the manner in which, during his terra of office, he (the director) had engendered the hostility of the teaching proiession by his policy of centralisation, and in what way the teachers had been belittled by the Department, these allegations having been contained in Mr. Newton's letter to the Press. Mr. Newton said he had replied t>. Mr. Caughley in a personal note, but Mr. Caughley insisted upon specific instances being given. Reply To Be Written. "What I wrote in that published letter was the result of careful consideration- I spent some days over it," said -Mr. Newton. "I feel quite certain that the views expressed therein represented pretty fairly the feelings of teachers throughout this province towards the Department at about that time. (Hear, hear, and applause.) I thank you for that endorsement, ladie3 and gentlemen. What I want to make quite clear is that my letter was not the outcome of m. own imagination, but that it set out what 1 knew the majority of teachers felt."

At the same time, continued Mr. Newton, it was not easy to pick out cases where feelings of hostility were fait by teachers on account of the centralisation policy. The matter required some thought and consideration, and a letter ■ was being drafted. It would be written in Wellington while Auckland members were attending the conference. In connection with the allegation as to teachers being belittled, this feeling was caused by the distrust which was evidenced by the Department at variom times. "You . feel that you are distrusted, and being spurred on to do what 3 - ou have been trained to regard as your duty. In this we are suffering for the sins of a very few." - The Teacher a Machine. The letter in reply would be forwarded to the central executive of the Educational Institute, said Mr. Kewton. If the executive thought fit to do so, then it could send the letter on to the Department. The speaker had a rough draft of the letter in his hand, and although it was not set out in proper sequence, some of the points it contained were as follow:—First, that the multiplicity of regulations made the teacher a machine, leaving him without any right to experiment in any way, or to exorcise his individuality. Without that, the teachers held, it was impossible for any teacher to do his best work. "We say that the spirit of the regulations is mistrust and suspicion, which has aroused our resentment," sa : d Mr. Newton. There was the point concerning stationery which be supplied by the lommittee, and that which must be supplied if funds were availing. Very often there were not funds, and school work was hampered as a consequence. Then there was the matter cf inadequate notice concerning changes in time and syllabus of examinations. Teachers who were responsible for the training of the candidates most concerned were naturally annoyed when tha time was cut short. A strong point against centralisation was provided by a regulation which, <>y force of public opinion, had to be withdrawn. This had provided that a lady teacher in grade 3 must, whether suited to the work or not, be transferred to the infants' room by the headmaster. There were other points, too. Exposure of Defects. Concerning the belittling of teachers, it was felt that the statement concerning the thousand hours worked by teachers should never have been made, continued Mr. Xewton. The publication of criticisms of schools was also repented. Broadcasted as they were by the Press Association, these friticisms served no good purpose. Reports of inspectors' conferences, containing not one word of praise, hut simply showing up the defects of some schools, of all were quite conscious, should not have been published in the Press. Teachers resented all these things.

A motion was carried expressing the hearty appreciation of teachers for what the president had done in their defence, and assuring the president of their loyal support.