TEACHERS CRITICISED.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18547, 3 November 1923, Page 12

TEACHERS CRITICISED .

v HEADMASTER'S REJOINDER. HAMPERED BY REGULAR INDIVIDUALITY NECESSARY. ; Strong exception wan * taken at a meet- ; ing of the Auckland Headmasters' Association last evening to, the dissemination of f statements " from Wellington, which were considered to bo criticisms of the teaching profession, and discrediting to the work of the schools. •.'"' . • In the course of dicussion it was suggested that the strongest possible protest , should :'■ be made by the New *■ Zealand Educational Institute against this public pointing out of defects without .... full statement as to their causes. In the matter of the retardation of children complained of, ,'Jt was stated that irregular attendance and a late commencement of studies often, accounted for some cases of retardation in the primer classes, while the congestion in many schools made it impossible to move children from the infant department as early "as teachers would like. In regard to the want of accuracy, it was mentioned that, among other things, with the diversity of subjects now taught in the schools, less* time was available for the development of mechanical accuracy. It wag felt that the strictures as to the training of junior teachers had been most unfair, as m the Auckland district, until recently,' it had been notorious that the number of applicants for employment did not equal the vacancies, with the result that a considerable proportion of junior teachers entered the service hav ing exceedingly low educational qualifications. It was clear that no action could have been" taken * without leaving :; thd schools Jshort of junior teachers. The* improved conditions of employment, however,? notably increased salaries, n were now attracting a better qualified class of candidate. It was • decided to bring .these points under the notice of the institute, and to recommend that the attention oi the Minister for Education be drawn to the fact that the unavoidable removal of pupils from school to school, partly due to the housing problem, was a very real cause of retardation. It was ~ suggested that the Minister be asked to > consider seriously the tendency of -his department to multiply regulations, and—because of the neijlector the inefficiency of an admittedly very small proportion of the teachersto impose restrictions upon the 1 great majority of head teachers, who have long and honourable service and' wide experience. *'"''■; '""-' .*"'-'', . The meeting also decided to point out that the work of the headmaster was organisation and supervision, and to obtain the best results he should be free to exercise individuality. If the inspectors were satisfied that he made his influence manifest in the tone of the school and secured the. .hearty co-operation of his staff and good work throu'' out the school, the number of hours he actually taught was a matter of no importance, and should certainly • not- be a matter of regulation. . .•>. - , a '.' a ■ m -