LEAVE REFUSED

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21244, 16 August 1934, Page 17

LEAVE REFUSED

TEACHER WHO WISHED TO TRAVEL DECISION OF WELLINGTON EDUCATION BOARD (ntlss ASSOCHTION TBMSQIUI!.) WELLINGTON, August 15. Leave of absence to travel abroad and to visit especially Grectt Britain and Russia has been refused a teacher, Mr M. Riske, by the Wellington Education Board, which declined to-day to lescind a previous motion rejecting his application. The application had been considered by the board previously in committee, and came before it yesterday as a notice of motion by Mr Robertson to rescind the decision. Mr Robertson said he thought the board would be guilty of political bias if Mr Riske were not granted the leave without pay which he requested. Colonel T. W. McDonald said Mr Rake's application was supported by the Educational Institute, which was a very strong recommendation, and by many other bodies. He was a highly educated man and wished to go abroad to improve hia knowledge of education. When a man was prepared to devoto six months of his time without pay to such a purpose he should be encouraged unless it was known that he had an ulterior motive. Colonel McDonald appealed to members not to allow bias against certain social philosophy to be the basis of their decision. That bias was not In accord with the march of events in world affairs. Great Britain and other great countries of the world had now recognised Russia. He was told Mr Risko harboured communistic opinions. His parents had been political refugees from the old regime in Russia, and it was natural that he should want to visit that country. Mr W. E. Gascoigne said that tha man was either fit to be a teacher or not. If they permitted teachers generally to go abroad, they should not make rui exception without special knowledge. They could not presume that he would assimilate the worst ideas that he encountered, and even if he did give trouble when he came back he could be dealt with. The motion was defeated by eight votes to five.