A SENSITIVE DEPARTMENT.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20310, 19 January 1928, Page 8

A SENSITIVE DEPARTMENT.

STUDENT CRITICISM RESENTED. CENSORSHIP. SUGGESTED. (Special to Daily Times.) AUCKLAND, January 18. The curbing of the. liberty of the Training College magazine by a “ responsible censor ” has been asked by the department of Education, but the Auckland Education Board has some sympathy with the students. Following an outburst about the economic position contained in a leading article in the journal, the department wrote to the board saying that the article was written bv a “ teacher with a grievance,” and that it was intended to promote discontent among the students. “ The magazine should not be allowed to comment on the policies of the board or of the department, and it should be subject to the censorship of a responsible officer.” “ I think every word of the article is perfectly justified.” said Mr T. U. Wells. The Chairman (Mr A. Burns): I think members of the board have said something similar earlier in this meeting. We had better get a report from the principal on it.

It was stated that the magazine was published at the students’ expense. Mrs Nellie Ferner: How can we appoint a censor, then? The Manuka’s editorial, which was objected to, stated: —“Students come into college expecting that at the end of their course thev will obtain a position yielding a salary of at least £165 for a town position, and up to about'£l3o, including all allowances, for a sole charge school. Instead of this, the majority—say, 60 per cent.—of those leaving college will receive salaries of about £145 a year. Considered from the point of view of the students, this is a financial disaster. To expect a young man of about 20 or 21 to live on a salary of less than £3 a week and at the same time to keep up the standard of life which is expected of a teacher is ridiculous. If we had been cognisant of these facts before entering college, we should have no cause for complaint, but no warning was given, and now, after wasting at least two of the most valuable years of our lives, we find ourselves trained for a profession which can offer nothing better than this.” The board decided to ask the principal for a report.