SCHOOL MUSIC

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 149, 26 June 1931, Page 10

SCHOOL MUSIC

LECTURER’S ALLEGATIONS CHARGE AGAINST PRIVATE TEACHERS. Allegations that some private music teachers had used every means in their power, including anonymous letters, false reports, and libellous statements to prevent him from ontinuing his work, were contained in a report, which eaqie before the Canterbury Board of Education at its meeting recently, from Mr T. Vernon Griffiths, lecturer in music at the Christchurch Teachers’ Training College. The report was made in consequence of a suggestion from the Department of Education that he should give an account of his activities in addition to his official duties. Mr Griffiths stated that before leaving England he was informed at the office of the High Commissioner that he would be free to engage in outside work, provided that such work did not militate against his Training College duties. During his first year in Christchurch he undertook the conductorship of the Royal Christchurch Musical Society and of the Savage Chib. One of his reasons for resigning both of these appointments at the end of one year was that he realised that his acceptance of them had been distasteful to local musicians. At the present time his only outside appointment was that of organist and choirmaster at St. Michael’s Church. Group Teaching. “My Training College work and work with the children leaves me very little tiino for private pupils,” stated Mr Griffiths. “I have never had more than six pupils in the Dominion, and at present I have only three. Most of my pupils have been professional music teachers.

“Realising the enormous need for active work in connection with instrumental group-teaching with children (and the fact that example is better than precept), I organised the Training College music classes for children over two years ago. From the very first, professional musicians were in the majority on my staff of teachers. Although it must be remembered that the chief reason for the classes is not the provision of work for professional musicians, yet this year the majority of such musicians over the others is even larger than was the case last year. “Neither I myself nor my assistant, director (Mr A. J. Huston) receives one penny directly or indirectly from the classes. In fact, my accountant says that the first eighteen months of the working of the classes cost me personally over £l5O from my own private income. Last year more money was paid in fees to the teachers than was received from the children. The classes ; were started and are conducted entirely ' in the intrests of child education. They have never been a business undertaking. There were over one thousand enrolments last year. It is probable that, for the three years ending next December, about £2OOO will have been paid out in fees to the teachers, most of whom are professional musicians. Opportunities for Children. “These classes have reached hundreds of children who might never have had the opportunity to study music. The fees have been kept as low as possible. At the end of the secoud-year course, all children were asked to go to private teachers, but a, third-year course was organised for such children as could not possibly afford the fees required by such teachers I do not want children to be forced to discontinue their studies on the grounds of poverty. “Finally, it remains for me to say that, although the leading musicians here and in other centres have done their best to encourage me in this work (work which takes up most of my spare time), yet there is a section of the lower graded professional music teachers who have continually and bitterly opposed me at every step. Their attitude seems to be that, if children cannot afford to have lessons from private teachers, they should not be able to get any musical instruction at all. Such an attitude is hardly creditable to the teachers concerned. In spite of the fact that the classes are every year providing more pupils for private music teachers, this section of which I speak has used every means in its power (anonymous letters, false reports, libellous statements, and every other form of opposition) to prevent me from continuing this work. “It is nothing to them that Christchurch has the honour of being the first city in the Dominion to harbour such a scheme of classes; it is nothing to them that hundreds of children all over the city are finding an added joy and interest in life. Apparently it is also nothing to them that over twenty of their professional colleagues have benefited financially to no small extent by the existence of these classes, and that they themselves will also ultimately so benefit. They cannot understand that I am prepared to undertake the labour involved in the creation and direction of all this work solelv from the desire to benefit the children of Christchurch, and with no hope and no wish forfinancial remuneration, or even for any recognition.

* • Unworthy Antagonisms. ’ ’ “Having (out of consideration for local teachers, and in order to devote most of my spare time to furthering the interests of music with the children) voluntarily denied myself the financial benefits which other outside work would have given me, and having freely spent my own limited financial resources to help on this work. I am to-day a poor man. But. I have the. staisfaetion of knowing that hundreds of Christchurch children have been enabled by my classes to enjoy the pleasure oi creating their own music; I have the satisfaction of knowing that something has been done for the future citizens of this place; and I know that leading educationists approve of the '• nrk I have done and am doing. “Compared with what- remains to be done, it is indod very little; hut its i-fleets will. I believe, remain long after these narrow and unworthy antagonisms have been relegated to the forgotten things of the past.” The Normal School Committee reported that Mr Griffiths’ report was adopted for submission to the Department, and .•xpressed the opinion that. Mr Griffiths was deserving of the highest commendation for the inspiring work he was carrying out in the community through the group music classes and the children’s festivals. Board's Discussion. Mr .1. G. Gow said that the work done l.y Mr Griffiths was ■» cry highlv spoken of Uy (he Principal of the

Christchurch Training College (Mr J. E. Purchase). The chairman (Mr R. Wild), in andorsing the remarks of Mr Gow, said thta so far as primary teachers were concerned, the board hail no authority or power to interfere with anything they did outside school hours. It was clear that Mr Griffiths did not allow his activities outside school hours to interfere with his duties to the board. The report was received.