BAN ON SMOKING

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22823, 2 September 1937, Page 13

BAN ON SMOKING

TEACHEBS AT SCHOOL DECISION CONFIRMED DISCUSSION BY BOARD EFFORT FOR REMOVAL FAILS By seven votes to four the Auckland Education Board, at its meeting yesterday, decided to adhere to a previous decision forbidding smoking on school premises. The matter came up for consideration -when Sir. W. J. Campbell moved that the board should rescind a resolution passed on May 5, when it was decided to issue a circular to head teachers notifying them of the board's decision that no smoking was to bo allowed in- the precincts of its schools. "I want to say at the outset that I Lave 110 feeling in this matter, and I have not spoken to a single member of the board about it," said Mr. Campbell. "I wanted to remove an unintentional injustice cast on the teachers—l say unintentional because the resolution was never discussed by the board. I think if it had been it would never have gone through in the form it did. I think every member of the board feels that wo have made a mistake in allowing this resolution to be pushed through." No Action by Other Boards Teachers had a high sense of duty " and the profession, was looked up to, Mr. Campbell continued. The whole of the public had taken this matter up and there was not another education board in the Dominion which had placed a similar restriction on its teachers. Employees in banks, insurance offices and in all branches of the Public Service were permitted to smoko as much as they liked outside the hours of public business. "We have had one or two fires in schools, but I don't think we are in a position to say that these have been caused by the teachers smoking," Mr. Campbell said. "Even if there was sufficient evidence, is that any reason why all the board's teachers should be penalised?"

Views oi Chairman Stating that ho was opposed to the rescinding of the board's previous resolution, the chairman, Mr. T.„U.Wells, commented that he had received only one protest from a teacher regarding the board's decision. He had, however, been stopped by some 200 or 300 people in the street who had. chaffed him about the resolution. "In almost every case —certainly 90 per cent —they have said. 'I think the board has done the right thing. It is a very bad thing to see teachers smoking about the schools.' " Mr. Wells continued. He was particularly struck by the strong exception taken by some mothers to the examples set their daughters in the schools by some lady teachers. Teachers were not in the position of the ordinary man in the street, said Mr. Wells. They had a responsibility that did not lie with others. He did think the resolution would be objected to by people who had a high conception of their work. A Suggested Example The opinion that the board could have achieved the same end by different methods was expressed by the Hon. A. Burns. Like the chairman, ho, too, put the profession on a pedestal, but he thought a better method would have been to ask the teachers to cooperate with the board in taking necessary precautions. "I think an example is better than a precept," Mr. Burns commented, in suggesting that board members should set the example. Mr. A. N. Macky pointed out that, there had been no official opposition to the board's decision either from the Education Department or from the Teachers' Institute. In calling for a decision Mr. Campbell remarked that the, teachers were now on holiday, and many were out •• of town. They had endeavoured to call a meeting.together, but had been unable to do so. A division was taken, and those who voted for the motion rescinding the ban on smoking were Mr. Campbell, the Hon. A. Burns, Messrs. S. I B. Sims and R. A. Rew. Those who voted against it were Messrs. Wells, A. N. Macky, W. I. Bowyer, C. R. Munro, F. A. Snell, 6. S. B. Morrii son and J. E. Elliott.