UNDERSTAFFED SCHOOL

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 139, 8 March 1929, Page 13

UNDERSTAFFED SCHOOL

Sir, —My attention has been drawn to the remarks of Mr. F.W. Moore, president of the Manawatu branch of the Educational Institute, which appeared in your columns recently, and also your subleader, on the alleged understanding of a school in Palmerston North, _ which, by the way, is the school of which Mr. Moore is headmaster. In fairness to the Education Department, I wish to say that no teacher in this district is required to teach a class of 72 children. Where it has been represented to the Department that reorganisation of. the staff cannot overcome the difficulty of large classes, authority has been given for the appointment of one or more additional assistants. On February 6, a letter was received from Mr. Moore, pointing out that the infant mistress had 72 pupils to teach, and requesting that an additional assistant be appointed. As the school organisation schedule had not been, furnished by the headmaster, the senior inspector was compelled to hold over consideration of the application. The schedule was received several days later, and on the recommendation of the inspector, application was made to the Department on February 14 for authority to appoint a teacher. The necessary authority was received a week later, and on Februery 2an appointment was made, and the teacher was instructed to commence duty on March 1. It will thus be seen that two weeks after the board was in a position to apply for authority to increase, the staff, the extra teacher was at the school. Were it not for the fact that remarks such as those made by the president of the Manawatu branch of the Educational Institute are apt to give the public quite a wrong impression, I would not have troubled to write this letter. The president’s remark that “the Department is evidently wanting to save a month s pay, is not worthy of serious notice. —I am. etC ” W. A. COLLINS, Chairman Wanganui Education Board. Wanganui, March 6.