RIVAL SCHOOL GAMES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19512, 16 December 1926, Page 15

RIVAL SCHOOL GAMES.

OUTSIDE IINTEIRFEfi ENCE. COMPLAINT FROM TEACHERS, THE RIGHT OF SELECTION. The question of tho activities ,of certain sports bodies with regard to school games vras discussed by the Auckland Education Board yesterday, when a deputation from the Educational Institute expressed strong objection to any outside interference with the authority of headmasters in selecting games to bo played. The deputation consisted of Mr. R. Harrison, headmaster of Belmont School and president of the institute, Mr. A. Murdoch, headmaster of Otahuhu School, and Mr. F. H. Brown, headmaster of Mount Eden School. Mr. Murdoch said the whole question was in defining tho exact, status <3f tho headmaster of a school in regard to tho games played at tho school. As an example of the trouble caused hv interference from outside, Mr. Murdoch cited a case which had occurred at his own school. After training a school Rugby football team for closa on two years ho found out that, by some influence, they had been drawn away from the code they were playing and were featured as tho Otahuhu school team when they played a rival code one Saturday. He had not been aware of any proposal by his team to play the game in question until a few days before the match, when oho boy had dropped a remark io the effect that the team should have a good game on Saturday. He. deplored the evident working of a spirit of disloyalty calculated to undermine the standard of the popils of the school and to lower tho prestige of the headmaster arid staff. Battleground lor Codes. Mr. Harrison said the institute had taken the matter up at tho instigation of the Headmasters' Association. "I dislike the fact that the schools should become a battleground for tho rival codes," he said. "Wo believe that games are necessary and should not liecome a, subject of biassed outside opinions. If a teacher likes a certain game best it is only natural that he is best qualified to teach that game." Mr. Brown said the headmaster must decide what game was to bo played in the school. He, personally, would not, allow hockey in his school owing to the' danger of injury and ho knew of teachers who had made a feature of certain games. However, tho board should sioe that no out,side influence want, brought to bear in selecting tho game. Mr, X U. Wells: In Mr. Murdoch's case, were there any teachers with the boys ! Mr, Murdoch: No, but ] understand the fares, of the boys wero paid to play at Carls,w Park. XJfse ot School Hamtu Mr. Wells: You do not object to the boys playing on Saturday so long as they do not use the school name? Mr, Murdoch: Than is so. Mr. H. S. W. King: What do you. mean by inter faring with the authority of tlhe teacher! Would it bo considered interference if n parent cam® to tho teacher and requested that hits child should' play a certain game ? Then, can you, prohibit the boys from carrying the school name ? Mr. Brown: Whenever a school team plays a,s a school team it is mjraired tc»> be under the supervision of u master. The master is then responsible for its Conduct. Mr. Wells: The whole question is one of discipline. Mr. J. P. McPhail: Could wo not have one uniform game? Voices;: No, it would be impossible. Two Besolutllojaa Pissed. M:r„ Brown said tho question was tone that should be brought up it the arrnual meeting of householders. It t/iould: then be decided whit game tihoujtd b*> played in the school. It would bo quito satisfactory if ilt wero left to the headmaster to decide. The deputation thßn withdraw. Tlbo following motions wem carried:— That when interference occi/rs from cutside th« ischool support should ho given to Itho teachers under all reasonable circumstances. That no school team should play a? a school team unless by permission of the h<iadmaiiter.