IN THE MELTING POT.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 21 May 1925, Page 9

IN THE MELTING POT.

THE SCHOOL PRIZE CONTROVERSY. ‘' BOARD SUGGESTS CONFERENCE. The school prize controversy "'as brought under the notice of the Taranaki Education Board on Wednesday in : a letter from ,the Central School Committee, and as a way- out of the difficulty that has arisen between parents, committees and teachers the board has suggested that a conference of representatives of the board, head teachers, and the -School .Committees Association sho.uld he held to discuss the nosition and endeavour to arrive at some amicable arrangement. The Central School Committee asked the board to define clearly the .position of committees in relation to head teachers upon any question affecting the interpretation' of policy where -such is left to ,the option of the various localities. The Central School Committee was faced with the prospect that the headmaster will absolutely refuse to distribute prizes unless instructed lay .the Taranaki Education Department, irrespective of opinion or wishes from the Householders or the committee. The committee felt that as trustees or representatives of the public, who are owners of the schools, teachers should give effect to the wishes of the public through the committee by distributing prizes if so instructed. A long ( discussion followed. The facts were) outlined by Mr S. G. Smith, M.P., who vacated the chair during the discussion, as being a member of the Central Committee he was an interested person. He said the question was really one of whether headmasters should he able to dictate to any scHool. Teachers were really the servants of the board, and if they did not abide by its wishes they might be dismissed for insubordination, _ -in which case they would have the right of appeal.

Mr H. Dempsey shared Mr Smith’s view that the" plodder was the one worthy of a prize ahead of the child who was naturally gifted. He was inclined to the view that the teacher was the department’s servant, and not the board’s. The teachers might refuse to award the prizes, but that would not prevent the committees from doing so. He contended the teacheis, however, should he in the best position to decide, having devoted their lives to the study of the child mind. He thought the position could not be covered by a policy laid down by the hoard, but might be amicably settled. The acting-chairman (Mr A Lees) quoted the Act in support of the contention that teacher's were servants of the board and under its jurisdiction. Mr P. J. H. White said that though he had followed the position carefully He had not yet made his mind up in either direction. The whole system was infested with prizes from the primary schools to the Rhodes scholar. He did not believe the awarding of prizes in schools aroused the jealousy and ill-feeling that some imagined. The Rev. J. L. A. Kayll was of the opinion that the policy was so firmly, established over the whole world thsy'' it seemed strange that it should hft under tHe control of teachers, committees or boards. He regarded it as too momentous a question to he decided offhand.

Finally the following resolution was tabled by Mr Lees, seconded by Mr R. J. Beare and carried, to the effect that a conference representing the three narties interested should be held in order that the harmonious relations between the board, school committees and head teachers sHotlfd ..he .centinvied.