"SPLITTING OF STRAWS"

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 211, 7 September 1927, Page 8

"SPLITTING OF STRAWS"

EDUCATION DEPARTMENT

CRITICISED.

lHSUtucnoir nr hospital SCHOOLS. RESPOXSIBILnTES OF TEACHERS CONSIDERABLE. The contention of the Education Department that the circumstances of the establishment of hospital schools, are quite exceptional, and the teachers in charge of them have not the same responsibility as teachers of ordinarv schools, has been questioned by the Auckland Board. At to-day's meeting of the latter body, it was- decided to strongly protest against the opposition of the Department to constituting hospital schools as separate "institutions. Mr. H. S. W. King considered the Department's attitude was not a fair thing.. On the contrary to the Department's suggestion, hospital schools were quite exceptional, and it -was generally agreed that the work under the system was exceptionally good. The efforts of the teachers also assisted materially to Testore children to health, and to think that tne Department should split straws over the question was a shameful thing. Hcyniged further action being taken in the matter, In conjunction * with, tie Hospital Board.

■The chairman (Mr. A. Barns) said the board had asked that teachers at hospital school* he placed on the same level as other teachers of small schools. The feeling of the board was that th-y should get extra salary, instead of getting less as at present. Their responsibilities were greater in view of the fact that many of the children had to be given individual attention. Everyone sympathised with the teacher at the Auckland institution, who was an excellent teacher, producing satisfactory results. While the Department was economising, its economy should no; be practised at the expense of the teacher in charge of the Auckland Hospital school. A child lying ill and unoccupied, Tie pointed out, was not going to get well so quickly as a child whose mind wae kept active. The question, however, was one for negotiations between the board and the Department. Mr. King said he quite agreed that the Hospital Board had. got enough to do, but when the board was satisfied that injustice was being done, it should seek the assistance of anyone likely to further its object.

The chairman said that several children had secured their proficiency whilst in hospital—a wonderful achievement. He had been" delighted with what he saw when he visited the school.

The possibility of the Hospital Board giving the teacher extra salary was mentioned, but the secretary (Mr. E. C. Purdie) explained that it was not in a legal position to do so. It was a case of the board being unable to move in this direction, although wishing to do so. The medical superintendent had gone so far as to recommend that the hospital should establish its own school. The Department was simply paying hospital teachers as assistants instead of headteachers of special schools. The chairman: I think we should enter a strong protest. Tffis course was eventually agreed to.