THE LEITH VALLEY SCHOOL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20930, 21 January 1930, Page 10

THE LEITH VALLEY SCHOOL.

10 THE EDITOR. Srß, —If the total disregard of local retirements and special circumstances tely shown by the senior inspector for "ago in appointing, in direct opposition the unanimous desire of the parents id householders of the Leith Valley shool district, a lady to the position ; -head teacher at the Leith Valley ihool, is an example of what parents in expect in the appointment of teachers . future, it is high time the Education ct was amended in order that the'relirements of the people, who directly and tdirectly; are willingly and cheerfully mtributing towards the cost of educaon in the Dominion, may have just and roper consideration, especially when the ,cal board recognises the necessity of te people's request. The high-handed action of the senior ispector in making this appointment at eith Valley has been received with conderable indignation and dissatisfaction, he people's request that the highest raded male applicant should be appinted to the position was not made out E regard for any mouldy or moth-eaten recedent, but was made with due appre.ation of present-day and likely future pquirements, although it can here be ud that a neadmaster, and not a headmistress, has always been necesasr&y in Leith Valley School since its establishment 45 years ago. , _ We, the committee, of the school, consider that in a two-teacher school such as ours the only satisfactory method of staffing is to have a teacher of either sex_ in the Echool, the man, naturally sup-' plying the manly influence and example and the other, a. lady, supplying the feminine influence. In this, I think, I am safe to say our opinion coincides with the policy of the local Education Board. Whom but a. woman with, her maternal instinct would we have to start in the infant division the tiny tots for the first time leaving home and mother, and the same, lady teacher is always competent to instruct the girls of the upper standards in home craft subjects? Whom but a sensible, upright man would we have to teach our boys from 11 years upwards and in a large measure mould the character of those same boys when. their coltish are the order of the day? Further, believing a healthy body necessary to a healthy brain, who but an up-to-date schoolmaster could train, encourage, and control the older boys in tie various manly and health-giving sports? It must be admitted that any healthy boy leaving school nowadays is not passably well informed if he lacks an elementary knowledge of some outdoor sport'or other. Despite the fact that the petition embodying the request for a male head teacher was signed by every parent, and practically every householder in the ■ school district, the senior inspector either ignores the request or does not see fit to depart from' the graded, list. Is ' the senior inspector justified in .rigidly adhering to the graded list, 'ignoring the, earnest wishes of the parents, and Blighting' the keen and commendable local, interest taken in the echool, when an' authority such as Mr J. Wallace says in an issue of the Times one day last week that " the applicant with the. highest number of marks was not necessarily the most suitable person for a position?" Moreover, Jn certain quarter? the- present grading system is considered fundamentally bad, and indefensible. The committee of the Leith-Valley School is of the opinion that the truth of a statement, which appeared in the Education Board's report for the year ended December 31, 19?8, is being manifested: "If at times Jlfere is a difference of opinion it is bejpuse the Act places too much power if the hands of the senior inspector —jjnrticularly so in the appointment of twehers."—l am, etc., w WnxiAir M. Ashtoh-, M Secretary 'M Leith Valley School Committee. f Glenleith, January 20.