THE THREATENED DISMISSALS.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XX, Issue 5745, 15 October 1885, Page 2

THE THREATENED DISMISSALS.

TO THE EDITOR.

Sir,— Would it not be possible for the combined wisdom and humanitarianism of the l-duoation Board to devise some more I indly plan of dealing with such of their teachers as have not this year produced satisfactory results — teachers, too, who have been in their employ for a number of years than that of giving them three months' notice of dismissal ; and, lest this punish-, meat should not be deemed sufficient, of completing their ruin by permitting their cases to be published in the newspapers, and thus preventing them from any chance of reemployment by any other Board ? Ido not say that where schools continue in an unsatisfactory state year after year changes should be made, or even dismissals ensue ; but I do say that where teachers have been guilty of no grosa offence or negligence, but have failed through no want of devotion on their part, these changes ehduld be made with the greatest consideration for their future prospects. What would be thought of the conduct of an employer who, having placed one of his servants over a certain department, and having found that the management of this department waa not so successful as he had hoped — though for many years he had no cause for complant— immediately gave his servant notice of dis* missal, and advertised such notice, so that; all chance of future employment by hie ser» vant in a similar capacity would be taken from him. Would he not be expected to say " I recognise your zeal and fidelity, and am unwilling to part with an old and tried servant j I have other positions which I think you will be better able to fill, and will appoint you to one of them when opportunity offers ?" If he found unmistakeably that hia servant could no longer profitably employed, and that he must resort to dismissal, hia humanity would not permit him to follow up his dismissal with an advertisement of the fact. I cannot but think that where tha removal of a teacher is not considered desirable, and dismissal becomes a necessity, the public interests would not be endangered by the matter being conducted in confidence between the Board, Committee, and teacher. Again, in cases where teachers are warned that unless their schools shew improvement at the next yearly examination, dismissal will follow, would not the interests of education be better served by a private admonition than a public one 1 Is it likely to conduce to the proper discipline of our echoola if the children are informed that, in the* opinion of the Board, their master is incom* petent, and will, unless certain improvement is manifested, be removed from his school. In my opinion, no more certain way of preventing such improvement could possibly be devised. Farewell to the master's good government when the children discover that the Board no loager consider him fit for the position he holds. The Board ought to be aware that teachers are already subjected to all sorts of petty annoyances, and., that publicly at least, they should be the last t& withdraw their support. But in cases, of occasional failure, can all the blame be fairly laid at the teacher's door. In moat other occupations, successful results must follow ia proportion to the energy expended. The man. who digs your garden will be able to shew you so many square yards of ground turned over as the result of his day's labour The clerk in your office will be able to show you so many pages of foblscap or so many columns of ma lpulated figures as the result of his. But tbe results of the schoolmaster depend not so muoh upon his power and endeavor to give as upon that of his pupil to receive, and when the many influences which conspiva to. mar his results, e;g., the irregular attendance of his scholars j the mental weakness of a certain proportion of them ; the inefficieuoy of his staff ; the unsuitability of his rooms furniture, or appliances ; the uncertainty oa examination day of children giving out what they know; the oftentimes capricious questioning and marking of the examiner. I say when all these are considered it would be a matter for surprise if eqw and then a teacher did not fail to obUin the results which he had hoped for and striven for. But let these things pass ; if the inevitable cornea

and the change must b 8 made, for the sake of humanity let it be done iv some less oruel way than the one now adopted by the Board. —I am, &c, Sympathy. Rangitikei, October 12th.