Anomaly In School Supervision Claimed

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30215, 21 August 1963, Page 14

Anomaly In School Supervision Claimed

A clarification of school boards’ legal responsibilities towards pupils outside the classroom was suggested at a meeting of the R-angiora High School board of governors last night. Mr G E. Koller said he had been perturbed to find that boards had no way of forcing teachers to carry out extra supervision duties and no right to discipline teachers who refused such duty. He had checked this matter with the Department of Education and had confirmed that there was an anomaly which should be removed, said Mr Koller. “This board, like all boards, is given a grave responsibility under the Education Act The position is entirely unsatisfactory. I move that the matter as reported be brought to the notice of the Director Of Education with a request that legal provision be made to empower this board tc be able to police its own legal obligations." If the board could not be legally relieved of its responsibilities. which seemed

likely, there should be a conference with the PostPrimary Teachers’ Association so that teachers could be compelled to do the duties they were already doing voluntarily. Questioned by Mr R. Ballinger, Mr Koller said that no reflection on the Rangiora staff was meant. They were doing good work voluntarily, but if there was a duty to supervise pupils it should be legally recognised. The principal, Mr J. F. Moffat, said that it would be most unwise to rush in with a suggestion before considering the matter fully. It was recognised that extra-cur-ricular duties were pushing some teachers out of the profession, and the whole question was one which should be decided by the department in consultation with board representatives. Mr Koller withdrew his motion asking for immediate action, and it was resolved to bring the matter up for discussion at the PostPrimary School Boards’ conference.