THE DISMISSAL OF ASSISTANT-MASTERS.
[TO THE EDITOR OP THE " SPECTATOP.."] SIR, —Your correspondent "An Assistant-Master," with the
spirit of whose letter I quite concur, has misunderstood my sug- gestion of joint dismissal by the head master and governing body, when he supposes that " the assistant-master might be dismissed. without having an opportunity of placing the matter before the. governors from his point of view." I took it for granted that the assistant-master would have full opportunity of defending himself before the governors previous to dismissal.
Let me point out that my scheme might do good, first, in pre- venting hasty dismissals ; secondly, in keeping the head master- from coming into direct collision with the governing body. Put the case of a hot-tempered head master who, coming suddenly for the third or fourth time into the class-room of a young assistant- master new to his work, finds the class, for the third or fourth.
time, in a state of complete disorder, and is irritated into giving: notice of dismissal ; or put a case not uncommon, of some mis- understanding that may cause a head master in the course of an animated conversation to say that either he or his collocutor must leave. Who does not see that if the head master had no right- whatever to say "must leave," but only the right of making a representation to the governing body, the collision in the two cases above mentioned would have been avoided ? The head master would have sat down and thought over matters in the evening, and probably, instead of drawing up his report to the governors, he would have bethought himself that he had better recommend his short-sighted colleague with the disorderly class to wear spectacles, and that his other colleague could not have meant what he seemed to mean ; and ten minutes' friendly talk next day might have settled the matter.
Even in more serious cases it is well that the head master should have to sit down quietly and consider how his complaint will appear to observers who, as a rule, will be impartial and guided mainly by their interest in the welfare of the school. Then, when he presents his complaint, it by no means follows that dismissal must result. A reprimand or even a recommendation on the part of the governors may suffice to stimulate an assistant-master, without bringing the governors into collision with the head master. But, on the other hand, if the head master has once given notice of dismissal, and the assistant-master notice of appeal, they the two are committed to a struggle that will be a source of more interest than profit to the staff, the boys, and to the very porters. Such a struggle can have but one result, the banish- ment of the defeated party.
In that case, Vag appellantibus ! To do "a great good," i.e., to keep a fairly efficient head master, the governors will unhesitat- ingly do "a little wrong," i.e., they will get rid unjustly of a very efficient assistant-master ; and at the same time, many head masters that can at present dismiss at discretion, and are 'chivalrously unwilling to use their absolute power, will use their power far more readily when they are dared to it by the impend- ing " appeal." 1 earnestly ask the assistant-masters to consider whether they are doing themselves justice in asking for nothing more than the right of appeal, when they should ask for the Tight of defence.
As to the second point objected to by " An Assistant-Master," the absolute appointment of assistant-masters by the head master, I do not care much who has the theoretical power, provided that 'the head master has (as he must have) the practical power. No doubt the non-advertising of vacant assistant-masterships has its 'disadvantages, but there is no reason why head masters should not advertise, should not be compelled to advertise, though they may appoint. On the other hand, the practice (if it is a practice, and not mere theory) of appointment by governors has disadvantages that are perhaps still greater. There is such a thing as touting and canvassing governors, as well as cultivating head masters. "An Assistant-Master" writes as the originator of the Memorial to the Endowed Schools' Commissioners, which, as we know, 'originated from Birmingham. I must remind him that very few governing bodies of small schools can be expected to show the same sense of responsibility and the same appreciation of educa- tional power that has been shown by the governors of King Edward's
School, Birmingham.—I am, Sir, &c., A HEAD MASTER.
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