TEACHERS RESENT FINE PROPOSAL

Evening Star, Issue 19724, 26 November 1927, Page 2

TEACHERS RESENT FINE PROPOSAL

At a meeting of the Otago Itdiiea* tional Institute the following resolution was carried;—“That.this meeting of the Dunedin branch of the Otami Educational Institute protests strongly against the proposal to amend the Education Act so that lines may bo indicted upon teachers for dereliction ot moving the resolution Mr W. F. Abel pointed out that it was an unnecessary regulation and not a fair one. The introduction of such a system ot penal correction was an injustice to the profession. It seemed absurd to him that because some *‘ bold had girl in Hawke’s Bay had made trouble the whole teaching profession should bo asked to submit to this kind of treatment. Speaking from his experience, ho was convinced that all that was required was accomplished by a recourse to either the head teacher or the Education Board. Then there were the inspectors. The department always had the inspector system to hold over the heads of teachers to act as a sort of deterrent. They were not objectinn' to this system of correction, which had been in use tor some time in othci departments of Civil Service because they thought they were a cut above these other people. It might be good onun"h for them, but it was not good enough for teachers, who were not con corned with the administration of div ciplino in other departments. Mr T. A. Paterson said all teacherwould agree with the resolution. Pei' sonally ho had found that a word iron, the head master was usually sufficient Most teachers, were sensitive to cithc a word of praise or a word of condom nation. Moreover, it would bo iutci esling to find out how many teache, - had been reprimanded in Otago durin, the past year. It was his expeneiit that the more frequent fault in teachers was that of excessive zeal ratlu ■ than insufficient. He had frequently i : speak to his teachers about doing toe much. He went on to say that he ha ■ no faith in the relegation or disaplm arv powers to inspectors as tui 4teachers were concerned, ana the iw > said about them the better. He w. heartily in accord with the niotio.., and had great pleasure in seconding u The motion was carried unanimous!. ■ and it was decided to forward a cop to each Dunedin member ot I arm meat. _____