LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18404, 21 May 1923, Page 3

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

♦ ■ ■ .'■ ■ *.|3 GRAMMAR SCHOOL STAFF. Sir, The point of view of the staff is for obvious reasons not likely to find expres- ; sion in the papers, but, as a member ;| of the staff for the six years preceding Christmas, 1922, I could enlighten the Board of Governors on many points of I which they appear to have but little knowledge, judging from the explanation in Friday's Herald. When it is 'assorted I that teachers had undertaken outside work.- ! with the result that " one or two had been frequently on the sick list, and unable to do their class work.'.' all I can, say is that I have not been acquainted with a single case. Further. w;th regard to the filling of the vacant positions, although I am satisfied that the board acted honestly according to the advice tendered to them, yet as it is not a matter of general public interest I pass on. to the sixth clause, which is as obnoxious to the spirit of the age. the spirit of the British Commonwealth of Nations. a* .it is to teachers. The sixth clause of the agreement in dispute runs <litis: " Should the said teacher at any time neglect or refuse or be unable through illhealth 01 p*'" i""'-" to perform, abide. hv. or comply with any duty required of him hv tne board, or at any time bo guilty of any conduct unbecoming his position as teacher, (he board may by ■ . I notice in writing, under the hand of its chairman or acting-chairman, to be-given, to the said teacher or left at his lastknown place of abode in Auckland a fore* said, immediately determine and. put an end to this agreement, anything herein, to the contrary notwithstanding." Such i an agreement would place a teacher at .J\ the absolute mercy of the board, in spit* of Government regulations to the contrary. If the board is certain that tha agreement is legal, why have they not '] insisted on the members of the staff sign- 5 ing it? Why have- they singled out a j trio of new masters who wore ignorant . | of the conditions prevailing. Why should > men joining th« staff have to submit to | conditions whi-* do not prevail in any j other secondary school in New Zealand | Such an agreement was insulting; to many | of the masters, who had laboured faithfully \ for a number of years for the welfare of f the school. There were not any Bolsheviks j on the staff, but it might be hinted that | it is tyrannical action of this nature that ;| gives birth to Bolshevism, and. although' 1 assistant teachers may even consider a. j tyrannical government as the best form ' "\ for a school, yet they do insist on a just, j government. T believe that the board | has not been fullv acquainted with many f of the school affairs, because to me it j is inconceivably that men of their high' * I standing, and well-known courtesy, con.M I knowingly adopt such tactics, or show | such a want of (rust in a loyal body of ' j teachers. ' ■ | H. C. Bor-rivr. M.A. (Cantab. f 42. Great South Road. ; J