THE TEACHER.

Press, Volume L, Issue 14909, 6 March 1914, Page 10

THE TEACHER.

A FEW OF HIS TRIALS. WELLINGTON MASTER'S COMMENTS. (SPBCOAL TO "THE PRESS.") WELLINGTON. March 5. Somo outspoken comments in regard to certain aspects of school life in New Zealand were made to a 'Tost' reporter dtiring the course of an interview with Mr Clement Watson, for thirtythree years headmaster of Te An School. Most people know that the teacher is subject to all sorts of little (and big) vexations, which tend to exasperate him,' and which prove a severe tax on tho nervous system. It is the little pinpricks that count, so Mr Watson Baid. The School Committee has probahly heard of some trifling complaint, and th© headmaster is rushed for a report. INCONSIDERATE COM_*nTTEES. "Some committees, 6how little or no consideration, and it is in their hands to mako the life of a teacher unbearable. Committees have too much of a say in the management of a school,' Mr Watson considers, "and it is not right that they should be permitted to interfere in all questions. Then they come pandering" to you for an entertainment to raise money. Such entertainments are a terrible interference with, tho work of the children, and I j believe do more harm than good, but if you do not bow to the wishes of your committee that body gets its back up, and, as I hare said, can make matters very unpleasant. What is the teacher to do? PESTERING PARENTS. "Then there are some parents who are veritable nuisances." continued Mr Watson, "but before going further, I mast say that the public, as a whole. .how a remarkable amount of conhdence in the teachers. Many a father and mother never so much as enquires after a child's welfare. They take it all for granted that tho child is doing well at school, and that he or she is under the care of a capable master. On the other hand, there are parents who are continually worrying for reports as to their offspring's progress. Not satisfied with this, t .ey perhaps forbid that their child should be published, and they lay down set lines on which the boy or girl is to be educated. Bu. a teacher has not the time to give special instruction to any one pupil, and my reply has always j been that the usual rules of the school, j both as regards education and disci- j pline, must bo obeyed. Some parents : think they know more about educating J the young than we do. and they almost go so far as to say, *W"e do not bring . the child to you because we cannot edu- j cate him ourselves, but because we ; havo not tho time.' I remember a story an old inspector used to be fond \ of telling. He would say that if you ; took a gun and shot ten persons, at the i inquests nine would be described by j someone or other as educational experts." | TOO MUCH "SHOW."' I Mr Watson had some interesting re- I marks to make regarding the manner ! in which children aro 'exploited" by \ all classes, from the Government down, i First of all thero was too much "show" j of school children at any public gather- ' ings or demonstrations." ! •"The children are brought out for * everything," said Mr Watson, "and paraded in the streets or massed in a reserve, all for tho puroo.se of making a good show. You have"only to look at , the Dominion Day celebrations. An- \

patently no thought is ever given to tho work of the school. PROPAGANDIST INTERFERENCE. ".'Again, the many propaganda leagues now in existence aro a great nuisance. You would not believe what terrific interference they cause. We have the White Cross League, the Victoria League, the Navy League, and plenty of others. I have nothing to say against tho teaching of any ot the leagues. I consider that they are very good in their way, but that they should not be permitted to take up so much time in the schools. They should not be permitted to take up any time, in short. The school is no place for them." Tho request for essays "to be written in school hours" added to the trouble caused by the leagues' entry into the schools, Mr Watson considered. Finally, there was the "one-man travelling show" nuisance, which should bo put a stop to. These usually consisted of Puncli and Judy shows, glass-blow-" ing, pottery-making, and lectures either good or bad. They were not wanted, and only caused ''a confounded lot of trouble.-' j