RANDOM REMINDER

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33773, 20 February 1975, Page 17

RANDOM REMINDER

NEW BROOM

New Zealanders rather pride themselves on their versatility, the general feeling being that it is no trouble at all to convert a 40-gallon drum into a sauna, or to turn a discarded bicycle into a functional water-wheel. Making a mountain out of a molehill is child’s play.

But they have the gift in Canada too, according to a recent report from a reliable source, as they say. In a rural district, half-way through the school year, a primary teacher fell ill. No qualified applicant was available for the post and the

school janitor — while maintaining his regular schedule of duties — took over the class. He enjoyed such signal success that 'at the end of the year the headmaster asked if the man would take on the job officially. The janitor, after a moment’s reflection while leaning on his broom, agreed. It needed only the approval of the local Board of Education. The reply was clear, and short. No. The board pointed out, with impeccable logic, that the applicant lacked all the formal qualifications for the post. But they wereunderstanding and gen-

erous. If, they said, he took a year off at his own expense and passed the necessary courses, they would give the application more favourable consideration. It was at this stage of the negotiations that the janitor made a strategic withdrawal. He felt there was no certainty that the job would be there for him a year later. And while he did not disagree in principle with taking a year off to gain higher formal qualifications it was not, he felt, reasonable to accept the substantial loss of salary the higher qualifications would bring.