DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.68025#0101
ROYAL COMMISSION UPON DECENTRALIZATION.
95
16725. Does the Subdivisional Officer visit these
schools ?—Yes ; it is laid down that he should do so.
16726. Has he any regular means of communication
with the department with regard to the result of his
visits ?—If he writes anything in the inspection book,
it is always put before the inspector.
16727. What is the link between the Director and
the schools; not only primary schools but middle
schools and high schools ?—The whole of the school
work in the division is really under the inspector.
There are six divisions and six inspectors.
16728. Does the department invite any co-operation
as to the inspection and management of the schools ?—
To a certain extent; there are what are called Boards
of Visitors, and where there are managing or visiting
committees, the members of those committees are
expected to visit the schools and make suggestions.
16729. Who is the Chairman of the visiting
committee as a rule?—They would elect their own
Chairman.
16730. Has the Collector any definite obligation, for
instance, as to a training school or a high school ?—
No; training schools and high schools are practically
outside the jurisdiction of the Collector. But at the
same time he often visits these schools.
16731. Supposing there was any great laxity in a
training college in his district, would the Collector be
expected to know about it ?—No ; it would not be
brought to his notice officially, but if, when visiting a
high school, he saw it was not being properly conducted,
he would make a note of it, and his note would be sent
to the inspector of schools. The Collector would not
be responsible in the slightest degree.
16732. As a matter of fact, do you ever ask the
District Officer’s advice on educational matters?—In
regard to anything connected with middle schools and
primary schools his advice is always asked. In respect
of secondary schools his opinion is asked with regard,
for instance, to projects for new buildings and hostels,
but not with regard to the administration of the
school.
16733. Are there any model schools in the province?
—There are schools which are under the direct
management of District Boards which are supposed to
be model schools, but they are not really model
schools.
16734. I understand that the municipalities pay for
middle schools, but have no hand in the management
of them ?—Yes, but such payments are very excep-
tional within municipal limits ; they are aided by the
department direct.
16735. But on other than financial grounds would it
not be a very good thing if a municipality had a right
to interfere and to lay down the hours of attendance,
the holidays, or the fees that should be levied ?—I
think it would be a very good thing if the munici-
palities were to take a more direct part in the
management.
16736. Are not the parents better able to judge of
those points.than a Government department?—To a
certain extent. But if an inspector is worth his salt,
he ought to be thoroughly conversant with the wants
of a district.
16737. But he cannot be so conversant with the
wants of a district as the parents of the children
themselves ?—But the question is whether the parents
of the children are sometimes going on right lines.
This is not only an Indian question but a question
which we find in all countries in the world, and parents
might not always want what is good for their children.
16738. Would you not admit that it is a good thing
for the masters to be interested in pleasing the parents
as well as the department ?—Yes.
16739. Is not the effect of the present system to
make them look only to the department for approval,
and not to care in the least about the wishes of the
parents ?—That is a very large social question. I think
we should find that the masters do care very largely
-!for the opinions of the parents, and they could not set
the opinions of the parents at defiance. In fact there
is a little too much of that kind of thing in schools.
16740. (J/r. Dutt.) If the Director of Public In-
struction was a Secretary-to the Government of Bengal,
might that have the effect of raising the purely depart- Mr; G; W.
mental view of questions to undue prominence as Kilohler.
compared with the administrative view ?—I think not. _ ~
Because a man has special knowledge of a subject he is '•
not therefore debarred from taking administrative
charge of the branch which deals with the subject.
There are advantages and disadvantages, and certain
of the advantages more than counterbalance the
disadvantages.
16741. There are other Departmental Heads, for
instance, the Medical and Police Departments. Would
you recommend that those Heads should also be Secre-
taries to Government ?—Each case ought to be judged
entirely on its merits. The educational affairs of the
country are of extreme importance, and they ought not
to be made a small part of the duties of one Secretary.
16742. Does the Inspector of Schools act in consul-
tation with the Commissioner in any educational
matters 1-—Yes. Chiefly in connection with projects
for new buildings—matters of administration rather
than education.
16743. By whom are appointments and transfers in
the Provincial Service gazetted?—By the Local
Government.
16744. A suggestion has been made that the Director
of Public Instruction should be empowered to appoint
and transfer the officers in the Provincial Service ;
would you agree with that view ?—-Yes, for the reason
that the recommendations of the Director are always
accepted by the Secretariat, and correspondence merely
causes unnecessary delay. The Director is in a position
to know more about such things than the Secretariat.
16745. Does it not give a man a little more dignity
if he is appointed by the Local Government ?—I would
consider that an argument for making the Director a
Secretary to Government. It is quite possible that the
members of the Provincial Service would prefer to be
appointed by the Local Government rather than by the
Director of Public Instruction.
16746. Does that portion of the District Board
budget which relates to education go to the Education
Department ?—Yes ; it is sent first of all from the
Magistrate to the Director, and then the Director
sends it to the Commissioner with any remarks which
he cares to make. Of course the budget is in the first
place drawn up in consultation, nominally, with the
inspector, but, practically, with the deputy inspector,
who knows more about the district than the inspector.
16747. Does it often happen that the Director makes
any alterations in the budget ?—I think it hardly ever
happens, as long as the District Board spends its
allotment. There is a certain minimum sum which
they have to spend on education.
16748. The Director does not sometimes say, “ You
are spending too much on secondary, and too little on
primary, schools,” or anything of that kind ?—No, but
he has the power to do so.
16749. Do the same remarks apply to the municipal
budgets ?—Yes. There, of course, we have to see that
they spend the minimum sum.
16750. Do you ever make any suggestions as to an
increase in the number of the primary schools, or as to
raising some of the schools to secondary schools, or
anything of that kind ?—The deputy inspector very
often makes suggestions as to an increase in the
number of the primary schools or opening new primary
schools in places where they are wanted.
16751. Are those remarks generally attended to ?—
Yes ; with regard to opening of new primary schools.
As regards more expensive proposals the deputy in-
spectors are not in a position to have their opinions
really listened to.
16752. So that, generally speaking, you have nothing
to complain of as regards the way in which District
Boards and municipalities deal with the question of
education ?—Nothing, except that I do not think they
have shown enough initiative in the matter. They are
slightly apathetic with regard to education, and look at
it as the last thing they have to consider in the
budget.
16753. You have a class of officers called sub-in-
spectors of schools. Were they previously servants of
the District Boards ?—Yes. We have now taken them
under the Education Department in so far as they are
95
16725. Does the Subdivisional Officer visit these
schools ?—Yes ; it is laid down that he should do so.
16726. Has he any regular means of communication
with the department with regard to the result of his
visits ?—If he writes anything in the inspection book,
it is always put before the inspector.
16727. What is the link between the Director and
the schools; not only primary schools but middle
schools and high schools ?—The whole of the school
work in the division is really under the inspector.
There are six divisions and six inspectors.
16728. Does the department invite any co-operation
as to the inspection and management of the schools ?—
To a certain extent; there are what are called Boards
of Visitors, and where there are managing or visiting
committees, the members of those committees are
expected to visit the schools and make suggestions.
16729. Who is the Chairman of the visiting
committee as a rule?—They would elect their own
Chairman.
16730. Has the Collector any definite obligation, for
instance, as to a training school or a high school ?—
No; training schools and high schools are practically
outside the jurisdiction of the Collector. But at the
same time he often visits these schools.
16731. Supposing there was any great laxity in a
training college in his district, would the Collector be
expected to know about it ?—No ; it would not be
brought to his notice officially, but if, when visiting a
high school, he saw it was not being properly conducted,
he would make a note of it, and his note would be sent
to the inspector of schools. The Collector would not
be responsible in the slightest degree.
16732. As a matter of fact, do you ever ask the
District Officer’s advice on educational matters?—In
regard to anything connected with middle schools and
primary schools his advice is always asked. In respect
of secondary schools his opinion is asked with regard,
for instance, to projects for new buildings and hostels,
but not with regard to the administration of the
school.
16733. Are there any model schools in the province?
—There are schools which are under the direct
management of District Boards which are supposed to
be model schools, but they are not really model
schools.
16734. I understand that the municipalities pay for
middle schools, but have no hand in the management
of them ?—Yes, but such payments are very excep-
tional within municipal limits ; they are aided by the
department direct.
16735. But on other than financial grounds would it
not be a very good thing if a municipality had a right
to interfere and to lay down the hours of attendance,
the holidays, or the fees that should be levied ?—I
think it would be a very good thing if the munici-
palities were to take a more direct part in the
management.
16736. Are not the parents better able to judge of
those points.than a Government department?—To a
certain extent. But if an inspector is worth his salt,
he ought to be thoroughly conversant with the wants
of a district.
16737. But he cannot be so conversant with the
wants of a district as the parents of the children
themselves ?—But the question is whether the parents
of the children are sometimes going on right lines.
This is not only an Indian question but a question
which we find in all countries in the world, and parents
might not always want what is good for their children.
16738. Would you not admit that it is a good thing
for the masters to be interested in pleasing the parents
as well as the department ?—Yes.
16739. Is not the effect of the present system to
make them look only to the department for approval,
and not to care in the least about the wishes of the
parents ?—That is a very large social question. I think
we should find that the masters do care very largely
-!for the opinions of the parents, and they could not set
the opinions of the parents at defiance. In fact there
is a little too much of that kind of thing in schools.
16740. (J/r. Dutt.) If the Director of Public In-
struction was a Secretary-to the Government of Bengal,
might that have the effect of raising the purely depart- Mr; G; W.
mental view of questions to undue prominence as Kilohler.
compared with the administrative view ?—I think not. _ ~
Because a man has special knowledge of a subject he is '•
not therefore debarred from taking administrative
charge of the branch which deals with the subject.
There are advantages and disadvantages, and certain
of the advantages more than counterbalance the
disadvantages.
16741. There are other Departmental Heads, for
instance, the Medical and Police Departments. Would
you recommend that those Heads should also be Secre-
taries to Government ?—Each case ought to be judged
entirely on its merits. The educational affairs of the
country are of extreme importance, and they ought not
to be made a small part of the duties of one Secretary.
16742. Does the Inspector of Schools act in consul-
tation with the Commissioner in any educational
matters 1-—Yes. Chiefly in connection with projects
for new buildings—matters of administration rather
than education.
16743. By whom are appointments and transfers in
the Provincial Service gazetted?—By the Local
Government.
16744. A suggestion has been made that the Director
of Public Instruction should be empowered to appoint
and transfer the officers in the Provincial Service ;
would you agree with that view ?—-Yes, for the reason
that the recommendations of the Director are always
accepted by the Secretariat, and correspondence merely
causes unnecessary delay. The Director is in a position
to know more about such things than the Secretariat.
16745. Does it not give a man a little more dignity
if he is appointed by the Local Government ?—I would
consider that an argument for making the Director a
Secretary to Government. It is quite possible that the
members of the Provincial Service would prefer to be
appointed by the Local Government rather than by the
Director of Public Instruction.
16746. Does that portion of the District Board
budget which relates to education go to the Education
Department ?—Yes ; it is sent first of all from the
Magistrate to the Director, and then the Director
sends it to the Commissioner with any remarks which
he cares to make. Of course the budget is in the first
place drawn up in consultation, nominally, with the
inspector, but, practically, with the deputy inspector,
who knows more about the district than the inspector.
16747. Does it often happen that the Director makes
any alterations in the budget ?—I think it hardly ever
happens, as long as the District Board spends its
allotment. There is a certain minimum sum which
they have to spend on education.
16748. The Director does not sometimes say, “ You
are spending too much on secondary, and too little on
primary, schools,” or anything of that kind ?—No, but
he has the power to do so.
16749. Do the same remarks apply to the municipal
budgets ?—Yes. There, of course, we have to see that
they spend the minimum sum.
16750. Do you ever make any suggestions as to an
increase in the number of the primary schools, or as to
raising some of the schools to secondary schools, or
anything of that kind ?—The deputy inspector very
often makes suggestions as to an increase in the
number of the primary schools or opening new primary
schools in places where they are wanted.
16751. Are those remarks generally attended to ?—
Yes ; with regard to opening of new primary schools.
As regards more expensive proposals the deputy in-
spectors are not in a position to have their opinions
really listened to.
16752. So that, generally speaking, you have nothing
to complain of as regards the way in which District
Boards and municipalities deal with the question of
education ?—Nothing, except that I do not think they
have shown enough initiative in the matter. They are
slightly apathetic with regard to education, and look at
it as the last thing they have to consider in the
budget.
16753. You have a class of officers called sub-in-
spectors of schools. Were they previously servants of
the District Boards ?—Yes. We have now taken them
under the Education Department in so far as they are