TEACHER SPEAKS OUT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15550, 6 March 1914, Page 8

TEACHER SPEAKS OUT.

TROUBLES OF THE SERVICE.

" LITTLE PIN PRICKS."

IRRITATING COMMITTEES.

INCES WITH WORK.

[BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.]

Wellington, Thursday. Some outspoken comments in regard to certain aspecte of school life in New Zealand were made to a reporter by Mr. Clement Watson, for 33 years headmaster of Te Aro school. Most people know that the teacher is subject to all sorts of little vexations which tend to exasperate him, and which prove a severe tax on the nervous system. It is the little pin pricks that count, said Mr. Watson. The school committee has 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 much of a say in. the management of a. school," said Mr. , Watson. "It is not right that they should be permitted to interfere in all questions. Then they come pandering to you for an enter- j tainment, to raise money. Such entertainments are a terrible intenerence with thai work of the children, and i bt'iieve do more harm than good. But if you don't bow to the wislies oi your committee that body gets its back up aEd, as 1 nave said, can make uiatteis very unpleasant. What is tue teacuer to do I Some Patents a " Nuisance." '' Then there aro some parents who are veritable nuisanuo, ' continued Air. Watson, but Deiore going luitner i mutt say mat the uuOlic as a wnole shows a reniarKaoie amotnit oi commence in tue teachers. Many a latuer aud momer never so inucn as inquire aaler a aula's welfare. Iney tane it ior granted tnat tne cnild is domg well at school ami that he or she is unuer the caro of a capable master. On the other hand there aie parents who are continually worrying lor reports as to their offspring s progress. Not sathmed with tnis, tney perhaps forbid that their child should be punisued 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 tne 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 as far as to say ' We do not bring the child to you because we cannot educate him ourselves, bat 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 10 persons, at the inquest nine would be described by someone -or other as 'eucational experts!'" The Children "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, there was too much "show" of school children at any public gathering or demonstration. " The children are brought out for everything," said Mr. Watson, "and paraded in the streets or massed in a reserve all for the purpose of making a good show. You have only to look at the Dominion Day celebration. 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 intervene they cause. We have the White Cross League, and the Victoria League, the Navy League, and plenty of others--1 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. They should not be permitted to take up any time In short, the school is no place for them, the request for essays 'to be written in school hours' adds to the trouble caused by the bodies' entry into the schools, finally, there is the one-man travelling show nuisance, which should be. put a atop to. These usually consist of Punch and Judy shows, glass-blowing, potterymaking, and lectures, either good or bad lhev are not wanted, and only cause a confounded lot of trouble."