THE OTAGO DAILY TIMES FRIDAY, DECEMBER 16, 1945. BOARD AND RECTOR

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27265, 16 December 1949, Page 6

THE OTAGO DAILY TIMES FRIDAY, DECEMBER 16, 1945. BOARD AND RECTOR

Rather late in the day, as it must appear, the Board of Governors of the Waitaki Boys’ High School has suggested to the retiring rector, Mr J. T. Burrows, that a new approach should be made to a joint problem. In response to a petition presented by Mr Kingan, Mr Burrows has been invited to confer with the board “so that the whole matter might be further considered.” It is gratifying that Mr Burrows has decided to accept this invitation, even if his decision to resign is irrevocable, as it well may be. The board has discussed the matter of the petition with due regard to the need for a conciliatory attitude—a fact that its critics should note well — and whether its task ahead is to find agreement with the retiring rector or to seek a new one there should be profit in a full and frank discussion with Mr Burrows. He has, as he made jplain in his address at the school prize-giving ceremony, formed certain conclusions about school organisation, and the relations between the school and the board, which require to be closely considered, and the board will desire to hear his views.

The actual dispute which has brought to this fine school publicity of an unusual nature requires also to be studied by educationist?, whether “professional,” that is, departmental and teaching staffs, or “ amateur,” that is, members of governing bodies and committees. Mr Burrows resigned because he recommended one mari for appointment as first assistant and the board chose another. It was, as the board must have been aware, a provocative action, and a subsequent expression of confidence in Mr Burrows could not be expected to placate him. Lacking an intimate knowledge of the relations between the board and its rector, it might be rash to attempt an assessment of the rights and wrongs of the case, but certainly a headmaster, or any administrator of a complex organisation, would wish to be free to select as his right-hand man a man of his choice. In this case Mr Burrows could not have absolute free-, dom of action, but, “ all things being equal,” he might certainly have expected the board to accept his nominee. Its refusal to do so inevitably led to trouble. In the State-controlled education system in which the Waitaki Boys’ High School is a unit there can be, perhaps, no ideal solution of the problem which arose between the rector and the board. Both parties were undoubtedly motivated by the determination to do what was interpreted as the best thing for the school; both were strong-willed. Neither, until Mr Burrows made his statement at the prize-giving ceremony, had placed the issue squarely before the friends of the school and the public. The consequence has been that well-meaning adherents of either party have essayed to interpret the dispute. It rests now with the board, with the consent of Mr Burrows, to discover a means to a settlement if that is still practicable. If it is not, those who are interested in the school will certainly expect, due regard to be paid to the views of the retiring rector on reorganisation, notably towards a closer linking of the executive offices with the school. The publicity which has marked this disagreement, although painful to those connected with the school, may yet prove to have been beneficial. The problem which has been brought to public attention is one that is relevant to all schools, and particularly the notably successful schools, in the News Zealand system; as it affects the Waitaki Boys’ High School it points the need for tolerance, in favour of individual requirements, in the rules governing staff appointments.