TEACHERS AND POLITICS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21110, 18 February 1932, Page 8

TEACHERS AND POLITICS

BOARD AND HEADMISTRESS. SEQUEL TO THE ELECTIONS. A RESOLUTION RESCINDED. [BY TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.] DUNEDIN, "Wednesday. At a meeting of the High Schools Board of Governors ip December the following resolution was carried: "That this board expresses its conviction that as the schools of the Dominion had been established and are maintained for. the education of the children in the Dominion, irrespective of the political opinions and convictions of the children's parents, those placed in charge of the children in schools be debarred absolutely from any active participation in political matters and from an expression of political opinions in the schools, in the press and in public meetings, and any such participation or expression of opinion on the part of any member of the staff of either schools be regarded by the board as a. flagrant breach of trust. This board regrets that at present there exists no means of dealing satisfactorily with such breaches of trust and respectfully requests the Minister of Education to take into consideration the possibility of providing such means by legislation or by regulation. A copy of this resolution was forwarded to Miss King, principal of the Girls' High School, who took part in a political campaign prior to the general election.

At a meeting of the board to-day a letter of protest was received from Miss King, who claimed that she had been "condemned without trial." A letter was received from the Minister of Education, Hon. R. Masters, agreeing with the board that the classroom should be kept free from political strife, but expressing the opinion that it would not be wise to interfere with a teacher's activities as a private citizen so long as such actions did not bring discredit on the teaching profession.

After lengthy discussion it was decided to rescind the former resolution and to substitute the" following: "That this board disclaims any desire to prevent an expression of opinion by school teachers on questions of public interest that are unrelated to Parliamentary or civic elections and that are not matters of political party controversy."