FORTY-TWO YEARS

Southland Times, Issue 18809, 30 April 1920, Page 7

FORTY-TWO YEARS

ON SCHOOL COMMITTEES. THE MAYOR'S EXPERIENCES AND IMPRESSIONS. Mr John Stead (Mayor of Invercargill) has had an experience of school committee work, that, from the point of view of length of service, is probably a record for the dominion. And now, after having been a member of the South School Committee for 43 years continuously, with the exception of one period when he had decided to retire, Mr Stead has made up his mind not to contest the elections this year. “I have stuck to the South School Committee for the past few years thinking that my influence might have some bearing on the strength of our requests for a new school,” he explains, “hut we seem no nearer our object. Perhaps new blood will have some effect.” In connection with his first step along the long road of service in the educational interests of the town, Mr Stead tells a story with a flash of humour in it. He had been three months married when he read an advertisement calling a meeting of householders to elect a committee to control the South, Park and Grammar (now the Middle i schools, these being the only scholastic institutions of a public nature in the town. On arrival at the Grammar school, where the election was to be held, Mr Stead was asked by his father to contest a sent. In the end Mr Stead consented, and the election resulted in his being returned as one of the nine committeemen with 4.5 votes to his credit. “You did not vote for yourself, last night, John," said Mr Stead, send., to his son next morning. "How do you know ?” asked the new committee member. “Because five of us 'plumped’ our nine votes for you.” was the reply. The system of the time, it should he explained, allowed of a householder casting all his votes for one man, if he so desired, and this course was followed by Mr Stead's supporters. At the committee meeting held subsequent to the election. Mr George Lumsden remarked that, he ‘had hi.- doots” about the wisdom of putting young men in such an important position. Nevertheless, said Mr Stead, Mr I.umsden proved a valuable colleague and one whom he had often to be grateful to for advice on public matters. Mr T. Pratt, an ex-Maynr of the town, took an opposite inituil v;ew, and heartily welcomed the youni men. expressing the opinion that new blood should be valuable to the committee. At this time the three existing schools were controlled by the one committee. The committee's offices were in Dee street, provided by Mr C. Rout, who was secretary. Mr Rout was also secretary of the High School Board. A whole day was taken by the committee to visit the schools under its control. During this period matters moved along fairly well. The committee had much administrative powers than similar Tsxiies now pos-*™,.. For instance, the committee practically appointed the teachers, the Education Board simply formally approving the committee's choice. Then, there grew up an impression amongst the committee anti the community that the Grammar school was receiving treatment at the hands of the Education Board which was favourable by comparison with that being meted out to the other institutions. This ended in the establishment of separate committees.

Chatting of his early experiences U> a Times reporter yesterday, Mr Stead said that, looking back over the years, he could not help being struck by the great changes’ that had come about in all matters relating to education. As an example, he referred to the scarcity of female teachers in the early days. Now it was males who were scarce. Thirty years ago there were very few “qualified” teachers in the modern sense of the term, and committees were inostly concerned with -a man’s academic qualifications, the ability to impart his knowledge being more or less taken for granted, if he was a recruit, because of his wish to gain the teachers’ marks. Now, the main qualification was the teaching certificate held by the teacher. Again, the qualifications of the teacher to take part in field sports were never considered, and his Worship remembers well that when 20 years ago a meeting of the High School Board adjourned to discover the relative sports qualifications of two applicants for a position, the action was a subject of comment by the members. During his term of association with school committee work, Mr Stead Is aware that there has been an uiulerMirrent of feeling that committees are not tapable of selecting the best teachers, anti that- the Board should have the absolute fright of selection. Looking back, he declares. he is satisfied that, so far as Invercargill is concerned, the teachers recommended by the committees would bear comparison with any selected by the Board within the last 15 years. He thinks that committees should have greater powers than they now possess, for they are always anxious, he declares. .to select the teacher’ best suited for the portion, while ho floes not know of one case where outside influence was brought to bear with effect on a com mittec.

Dealing with another aspect of the loss of power by the committees, the Mayor frtate'l that it. had resulted in a great loss of public interest.. And there was nothing to be wondered at. in this. One member had aptly expressed the position when he said. "W“ are a scavenger committee.” Now and again, however, public feeling was aroused to something of the old pitch. An instance was found in the “punctuality prizes” awarded at th:, South School ir place of attendance prizes. The parents rose in arms on the injustices resulting from the substitution, and the election revolved round the dispute between two sides, each of which supported one of the systems. Out ■went the “punetuahty” adherents, and Johnny, who sometimes arrived at school five minutes late in the morning but who never missed a day in the year was rewarded. while Man - , who arrived on time anti then produced a note asking teacher to let her go home “to help mother” took an obscure position at the breaking-up ceremony.

Treating of his association with the Kducation Board. Mr Stead said that the Fchools - interests were looked to by a very fine cb-s of men when he took office. The late Crown solicitor, Mr T. M. Macdonald, was chairman. •'We had a line class of teacher in the ©ld davs, too. reminiscenced Mr Stead. In this connection ha spoke of Mr E. Webber, pf the South School, who was cnmnulgorily retired on reaching the prescribed age. Mr Webber, who is, Mr Stead understands. 'till teaching in Otago, could have given the South School another 10 years’ service with splendid results. lie also spoke of Mr W. G. Mehaffey, contrasting him with Mr Webber as two distinct types of men in their ideas of discipline. Both of them, however, were, in Mr Stead's opinion. idea! headmasters. “The school ennunittees of Invercargill will have to keep rheir shoulders to the wheel,” were Mr Stead’s concluding words. "That is. if they intend tn get justice from the Board.” One of their representatives, Mr F. W. Gresharn, had removed from the town, and the other lived beyond Gore, so it was hard’v to be expected that these two men would be in close touch with the feeling of the committees