CLOSING OF A SCHOOL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21032, 22 May 1930, Page 7

CLOSING OF A SCHOOL.

HIGH-HANDED ACTION BY PARENT, DISCUSSED BY AUCKLAND BOARD; (Special to Dailt Times.) AUCKLAND, May 21. The high-handed procedure in the action of a parent in closing an aided school against a lady teacher was considered by the Education Board this morning. A memorandum was received from the advisory inspector stating that the main road had to pass right through the old schciol building and its removal was necessary. Permission had been given by the board to-a resident who, had originally built the school to move the building to his own property. This was done, and four of his children and two others had been attending when the inspector visited the school. Ehe wife of the builder said that her children had no intention of attending while the present teacher was in charge. She had eight children, four of whom were of school age. ' The teacher jstated that the people on whose property the school was situated expected, her to do household duties and on occasions to.milk cows, .Wiien school work interfered with household duties she was expected to give up school auti63. She stated that she had been told’ not to go back to the school or she would be prosecuted for trespass. She is now living with another family and is teaching their children. She cannot enter the school, and other children are receiving no schooling. Immediately after the school had been closed to her there appeared an advertisement in the Auckland papers which read: “Urgent North 'Auckland. Wanted, teacher country, household school, four children, R.C. Help with household duties; 25s and keep.” The teacher stated that this was the same type of advertisement as the one she had answered for the position.

The inspector stated that what was evidently wanted was a teacher and servant combined, and he thought that if that family made their own arrangements the trouble would occur again. He was of the opinion that the teacher had a good case against the family to recover loss of salary as a result of the action of closing the school, which was done. without the authority of the board. The inspector recommended that further applications for the appointment of a teacher to that school be refused except under such conditions as had been laid down by the hoard, and that something be. done to prevent the school from again being closed. It was decided to write and ask for an explanation.