TOO MUCH SHOW

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 54, 5 March 1914, Page 4

TOO MUCH SHOW

EXPLOITING SCHOOL CHILDREN "THE LEAGUE NUISANCE."Some outspoken comments in regard to certain aspects of school life in New Zealand were made to a Post reporter during the course of an interview with Mr. Clement Watson, for thirty-three years headmaster of Te Aro School. Most people know that tfrra teacher is subject to all sorts of little (and big) vexations which tend to exasperate him^. and which prove a severe tax on the nervous system. It is the little pin-pricks that count, so Mr. Watson said. The school committee ha 1 s probably heard of some trifling complaint, and the headmaster is rushed for a report. "Some committees show little or no consideration, and it is in their hands to make the life of a teacher unbearable. Committees have too miich of a say in, the management of a school," Mr. Watson considers, "and it is not right that they should be permitted to interfere in all questions. Then they come pandering to you for an entertainment to Taise money. Such entertainments are a terrible interference with the work of the children, and, I believe, do more harm than good. But if you don't bow to the wishes of your committee that body gets its back up, and, as I have said, can make matters very unpleasant. What is the teacher to do? EDUCATIONAL EXPERTS ALL. "Then there are some parents who are veritable nuisances," continued Mr. Watson. "But before going further I must say that the public as a whole shows a remarkable amount of confidence in the teachers. Many a father and mother never so much as enquires after a child's welfare. They take it- all for granted that the child is doing well at school, and that he or she is under the care of a capable master. On the other hand there are parents who are continually worrying for reports as to their offspring's progress. Not satisfied with this they perhaps forbid that their child should be punished, and they lay down set lines on which the boy or girl is to be educated. But a teacher has not the time to specially instruct any one pupil, and my reply has always been that the usual rules of the school— both as regards education and discipline — must be obeyed. Some parents think they know more about educating the young than we do, and they almost go so far as to say : IWe do not bring the child to you because we cannot educate him ourselves, but because we have not the time,' I remember a story an old inspector used to be fond of telling. He would say that if you took a gun and shot ten persons, at the inquests nine would be I described by someone or other as ' edu1 cational experts.' " HOW CHILDREN ARE EXPLOITED. Mr. Watson had some interesting remarks to make regarding the manner in which children are "exploited" by* all classes, from the Government down. First of all there was too much " show " of schoolchildren at any public gatherings or demonstrations. " The children are brought out for everything," said MrWatson, " and paijaded in the streets or I massed in a reserve, all for the purpose of making a good show. You have only to look at. the Dominion Day celebrations. Apparently no thought is ever given to the work of the school. Again, the many propaganda leagues now in existence are a great nuisance. You' would not believe what terrific interference they cause. We have the White Cross Leaguer, the Victoria League, the Navy League, and plenty of others. I have nothing to say against the teaching of any of the leagues I have mentioned. They are very good in their way, but should not be permitted to take up so much time in the schools. I They should not be permitted to take up ( any time. 11l short, the 'school is no place for them. The request for essays— ' to be written in school houis '- — added to the trouble caused by the leagues' entry into the schools. Finally, there was the one-man travelling show nuisance, which should be put a stop to. Those usually consist of Punch and Judy shows, glassblowing, pottery-making, and lectures either good or bad. They are not wanted, and only cause a confounded lot of trouble."