Pupils Govern Native School

Northern Advocate, 9 December 1940, Page 2

Pupils Govern Native School

Rotorua Rotarians received a practical demonstration in Parliamentary procedure as applied to the government of a primary school when the “Cabinet” of the Horohoro Native School, accompanied by the headmaster', Mr E. F. Osborne, were the guests of the club at the weekly luncheon recently, says the “Rotorua Times.” After a brief survey by Mr Osborne of the system of self-govern-ment followed at the school, the “Cabinet” held a meeting reporting on the progress of various school activities during the past fortnight and agreeing on work to be done in the next fortnight. “Freedom does not mean license. There is nothing really new in what is called New Education, for ft has been realised for some time by many teachers that the best results are achieved when the pupil is allowed a certain amount of determination in the work that should be done and the manner it is carried out,” stated Mr Osborne. He assured Rotarians, however, that he was master in hi's own house, but he could see no good reason why the children should not run their own school to a large degree. The "Cabinet” consisted of senior pupils, both boys and girls, usually from Standards 5 and 6, but this year there' were a number of Standard 4 pupils also. Thus when some of the “Ministers” left school there were others trained to carry on and instruct the newcomers to office.

“Ministers” Report

Following the reading of the minutes of the last meeting, each “Minister” reported on the work in his department. Mr Semple’s colleague reported routine work in the playground and the cutting of pine trees for firewood; the “Minister of Agriculture’’ recorded that the school farm was now producing a record amount of butterfat daily and that one of the pigs had farrowed, and that the funds of this department had been swelled by the sale of a calf; sanitation was reported on by the “Minister of Health.” who faced up to a barrage of questions on the administration of this department and the execution, of matters decided at previous meetings. Jurisdiction extended even to the playground as the “Minister of Justice” reported the amicable settlement of a dispute which had led to a case of common assault in the school grounds. An indication of the wide field covered by this type of school government and its utility in giving instruction in a pleasant manner was provided by the letters written between the “Cabinet” and the headmaster requesting such things as a new tin of oil for some of the farm machinery. These letters were perfect examples of business correspondence.