Part-Time Music Teacher Told To Stop By Dept.

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30130, 14 May 1963, Page 12

Part-Time Music Teacher Told To Stop By Dept.

A full-time science teacher on the staff of the Christchurch Technical College, who has been teaching members of the college orchestra the double bass on Saturday mornings, has been told by tile Department of Education that his part-time music lessons must stop.

Explaining the position to a meeting of the college’s board of managers last evening, the principal (Mr D. W Lyall) said he had unsuccessfully approached both the training college and university in an effort to get someone to teach the double bass on a part-time basis. The science teacher' (Mr T. P. French) offered his services, Mr Lyall said, and had done much to improve the standard of the orchestra during the last two months. The department had been notified so that some arrangement could be made tor the payment of Mr French for his part-time lessons. In its reply, however, the department said approval for Mr French to continue his double bass lessons could not be given, and that he would have to terminate his parttime classes by the end of the second week of the new term.

Told of the department’s attitude, members of the board expressed surprise. “I think we should take the matter up with the Minister ” said the chairman (Mr R. Jones). “We have a music teacher, but if we are going to build up the orchestra to its former high standard I feel this part-time instruc-

tion will be most valuable.” Other full-time teachers on the staff were permitted to teach evening classes and classes on Saturday morntags on a part-time basis, Mr Lyall said, but there appeared to be a special departmental regulation concerning music. After further discussion, the board decided to investigate the position.