TEACHERS AND POLITICS

Evening Star, Issue 20972, 10 December 1931, Page 7

TEACHERS AND POLITICS

ACTION BY HIGH SCHOOLS’ BOARD PARTICIPATION A “BREACH OF TRUST” A strong resolution on the subject ol political participation and expression of opinions in public by members of school staffs was passed yesterday afternoon by the Board of Governors of the Otago High Schools. The action by the board followed recent events in the political arena in Dunedin and the expositon of an economic scheme by a prominent educationist. A Jong discussion took place in committee, the members of the board present being Messrs J. C. Stephens (chairman), J. J. Mallard, W, R. Brugh, Mrs S. M. Park, Hon. 1). T. Fleming, M.L.C., Yen. Archdeacon Fitchctt. _ The following resolution was carried: That this board expresses its conviction that as the schools of the dominion have been established and are maintained for the education of the children in the dominion irrespective of the political opinions and convictions of the children’s parents, those placed in charge of the children in the schools should be debarred absolutely from any active participation in political matters and from the expression of political opinions in the schools, in the Press, and at public meetings. And any such participation or expression of opinions on the part of any member of the staff of ■ either of the schools under its control is regarded by this board as a flagrant breach of trust. This board regrets that at present there exists no means of dealing satisfactorily with such breaches of trust, and respectfully requests the Minister of Education to take into consideration the desirability of providing such means by legislation or by regulation. When the board resumed in open meeting Mr Fleming, following his earlier attitude, voted against the motion being handed to the Press. A copy of the resolution is to be forwarded to the Minister of Education.