Board criticises bond requirement

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32459, 20 November 1970, Page 14

Board criticises bond requirement

A one-year bond, required; by the Department of Education from a teacher who was granted six weeks leave to attend a course in Europe, was strongly criticised by members of the Burnside High School board of governors last evening. The secretary (Mr P. J. Halligan) read for the board’s information a copy of a letter to Mrs W. L. Mathews from the department. • saying that she had been granted sixweeks leave oh half-pay to take up a scholarship at the Goethe Institute, in Munich. The leave was approved by the department, subject to Mrs Mathews! completing a bond to serve for one yeai in the New Zealand education service when she returned.

Mrs E. C. Robinson said that to require a bond for one year in return for six weeks absence was stupid. Other board members said the-bond should be for the

length of time she was absent. Mr Halligan said if Mrs Mathews was not happy with the situation she could take the matter up with the department through the Post Primary Teachers’ Association. Mr Robinson said he thought the board was entitled to express an opinion, and on the motion of Mr C. G. Shamy it was agreed that the board should write to the department expressing concern at the imposition of the bond and asking for a review of the matter

The chairman (Mr B. Zeff) said he appreciated the. prin-; ciple of the motion but he also appreciated the position of the department, which simply wanted to ensure that it got a member of its staff back.

Mr Shamy said the conditions of service should be good enough to ensure that teachers returned, without the imposition of a bond.