FRICTIOIN AT A SCHOOL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18020, 20 February 1922, Page 6

FRICTIOIN AT A SCHOOL.

QUESTION OF HALF-TIME, 0

POSITION AT MT. ALBERT.

COMMITTEE AND TEACHERS.

Friction appears to have arisen between the Mount Albert School Committee and the teaching staff of the school over the question of observing full-time during the month of February. The position was the subject of a statement on Saturday by the chairman of the school committee, Mr. E. S. Inwood.

" Four years ago," said Mr. Inwood, " the school was closed on the authority of the chief health officer, owing to the epidemic of infantile paralysis then prevailing. At its first meeting this year, held early in February, the committee was unanimous that the experience of the previous two years had shown it was not detrimental to the health of the children to attend school the full time, and permission was obtained from the Education Board to work full time as from last Monday. Unfortunately, the day was unbearably hot, quite the hottest day so far this summer," said Mr. Inwood. " Tho first and second assistant teachers came to me the following day and complained of the reverting to full time. At my suggestion they interviewed the committee on Tuesday last. The committee spent an hour after their departure discussing the position, and decided to continue observing full time,"

Mr. Inwood said he next received, through one of the teachers, a letter from Dr. T. H. Pettit, who stated that he had that day inspected the school at the request of the staff. " Tho day was practically ideal," said the letter, " the sun was not particularly bright, and there was a good breeze blowing from the southwest. In tho rooms where there was good cross-ventilation it was not overtrying and the children did not complain of the heat when questioned.

" In view of the present over-crowding of the school, which, cannot be avoided, I feel sure," the doctor continued, " that work in t'he afternoon must be detrimental to the health of the children. Influenza is prevalent in Europe, and wo may expect a visitation at any time. To have the children's vitality lowered by the present conditions would undoubtedly increase the virulence of any epidemic which might break out, and it would undoubtedly spread through tho school at a rapid rate." / The letter concluded: " There is no doubt that apart from the health of the children. it must bo very trying to the lady teachers especially, and must affect their health to a very serious degree.".

Continuing his statement, Mr. Inwood said:—"Since then I have received a somewhat threatening letter from one of the teaching staff, requesting the return of the doctor's letter, and concluding: ' I have to request that we this day be allowed an opportunity of perusing a report thai bo vitally affects our work. Otherwise, there is only one other course open to us, and this we shall have to take at once.' " Questioned as to what would be the next move, Mr. Inwood said he expected the Education Board would take up the matter, and demand an explanation. " I may say, however," he concluded, "that wo havo tho parents of the children at the back of us. A number have expressed themselves as being pleased that the committee has reverted to the full time hours."