NO REFLECTION INTENDED

Dominion, Volume 15, Issue 301, 15 September 1922, Page 5

NO REFLECTION INTENDED

REFERENCE TO^ “ROLL STUFF-

Following is a copy of correspondence between the N.Z.E.I. and the Mims ter of Education: — New Zealand Educational Institute, Wellington, September 11, 1922. The Minister of Education,

Wellington. ; Sir —I have the honour to renr.t to the subject of vour ■ reported remarks re “roll stuffing.” This was remlered necessary by the publication oi the following telegram: — “Otago executive strongly Minister’s remarks re ‘roll stuffing' as reflection on honour of members, and hope executive has vigorously replied. To tho executive at the interview on September 9 you made it clear tnat you had no intention of casting any reflection on the honour of teachers, but that your remark had been based on a statement received from the 1 epartment, and 1 should be glad ot your permission to publish the letter, as a means of removing to some extent the stigma cast on the profession. With regard, to the statement made uy tne Department, I have to point out that it was quite uncalled for as there cctld b 6 no more difficulty m preventing “roll stuffing” under the alteration sun-'rested than under the present conditions. I have to submit '.hat a better way to prevent malpractice would be for tho Department to deal with offenders than to cast an u.persion on tho whole service. (Signed] H. A. PARKINSON Secretary, N.Z.1t.1. Minister’s Office, Education Department, Wellington, September 12, 1922. Dear Sir, —I have no objection to the publication of your letter of terday’s date. I think perhaps the Ota°*o executive lias taken ratnei unnecessary umbrage. The Departmental report to me said that one difficulty against taking the roll as the basis of staffing would be that there would always be a “possibility or risk of roll stuffing.” I feel sure the Department officer who wrote those words had nointention of casting any slight on the general body of the profession, but may have had in mind the few blr.ck sheep which are to be found in every flock. As for myself personally, 1 think the teachers know that no r- an in this country has a higher apprecition of the fine standard of b incur and integrity that is to bo found in our teaching service than the present Minister of Education. My constant endeavour, as you know, has always been to take such measures as will enhance the status and high repute of the profession. (Signed) C. J. lARR-