STRONG CRITICISM

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22941, 20 January 1938, Page 13

STRONG CRITICISM

|SWO LONDON TEACHERS

HEADMASTER'S LETTER

CLASSES "A' BABBLE"

SCHOOL'S EXPERIENCE

Strong criticism of two exchange teachers from London County Council echoiols who wero appointed to a school under the Auckland Education Board WBS contained in a letter from the headmaster of the school read at tho meeting of the board yesterday. Tho Hon. A. Burns, M.L.C., presided in the absence of the chairman, Mr. T. U. Wells, who is attending a meeting of the']\' eW Zealand University Senate at Duncdin. The letter stated that one of the teachers, a male/ was in charge of Standard VI. for six weeks and the other, » female, had primer 111. for the last term of 1937. less two treeks. f "Discipline and Order Went" -'? A f« w days after they took charge of [ the classes discipline and order went," said the letter. "The classes remained more or less a rabble for the jest of the period, in spite of tho efforts of the infant mistress and myself to Encourage these teachers to take a grip of their classes. "The classrooms wero never tidy during these periods. Judged by New Zealand standards these two teachers would have been classed as very inefficient. The primer HI. teacher was bored stiff with number work, and so neglected it. An extra burden was thrown on the infant mistress, who had to take a great deal of the work herself. I Complaints from Parents

"Both classes went back in their wofk, so much so that I received complaints from parents. The New Zealand relieving teacher who took over from the primer HI. exchange teacher had the class in the hollow of her hand in a few minutes. "Both teadhers seemed to think that teaching was only a small part of their job, but that observation in other schools was the main featvire. They made very little effort, if any, to fit in with the work of the school and seemed to be utterly devoid of a conscience. If this is the type of teacher being sent in 1938 I would suggest that, if possible, these teachers should be attached to schools for short periods only and then not be given complete charge of a class." "You must not condemn all exchange teachers because there may be two misfits," Said the chairman. It was decided to send a copy of the letter to the department.