RIGHTS OF HEAD TEACHERS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 19665, 6 December 1933, Page 12

RIGHTS OF HEAD TEACHERS

VISITS OF MEMBERS OF COMMITTEE

RULING SOUGHT 'Can a headmaster refuse a committeeman permission to go through a school on his stipulated monthly visit?” was a question placed before the chairman of the South Canterbury School Committees’ Association (Mr G. Benstead) by Mr G. R. Moffatt (Main) at last night’s meeting of the Association at Washdyke. Mr J. M. C. McLeod rose to a point of order. He said that the question was purely a domestic one and had been dealt with by the school committee concerned. The chairman said that he could give only his personal opinion and he w T as not a Crown solicitor. He took it that no headmaster could refuse any visiting member the right to go through a school. The control of schools was vested in Education Boards, and the Boards entrusted the management of the schools to committees. If the Act were consulted it would be found that school committees had certain powers in connection with the school, and he could not imagine a headmaster refusing. A Legal Question. Mr W. Parlane said he thought that the question was a legal one. The Act in his opinion clearly defined a committeeman’s duties, and he had nothing to do with the running of the school other than maintenance work. The chairman said that in reply to a question placed before the secretary cf the Canterbury Education Board some months ago in regard to a statement that members of a committee could visit the school only on the invitation of the headmaster, the secretary had written: “I think there must be some misunderstanding ...” The Minister of Education in replying to a similar question had stated: “Any committee that is in doubt about its powers is always free to consult with the Education Board which is the body empowered by the Act with the responsibilities of dealing with all matters connected with school committees.” Mr W. Harte: I take it that the chairman means that no headmaster should refuse a committeeman. Where a committee finishes and a headmaster begins is merely a matter of interpretation.

The chairman said that a headmaster had full control of the scholastic side of a school, but he took it that a committee had the right to look after the interests of the children, except from the scholastic point of view. If corporal punishment were administered a committee should have the right to inquire into it. Mr J. W. Preen: Through the proper channels. No Axe to Grind, The chairman: I am not here to take sides with anyone. I have no axe to grind. If a committee does not investigate a complaint I take it that it would be the duty of parents to make representations to the proper quarter. Mr E. Laverty said that in his opinion the main point was in how a headmaster was approached. We were all human and if anyone demanded something of a headmaster and became abusive he thought that the headmaster would have every right in firing him out of the building. The chairman: "It all depends on how big you are.” He had been a committeeman for many years and he had never experienced any trouble with a headmaster. A voice: No. but you have never caused any trouble. A member: Or you must have had a fair amount of luck. (Laughter).

The matter was then allowed to drop.