THE APPOINTMENT OF TEACHERS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 562, 17 July 1909, Page 10

THE APPOINTMENT OF TEACHERS.

■ Sir,-r-I. was ivory: much;,mtereste'd>iireading the.artiole byi''Socratfes'Viii»your' ; issue of Wednesdaylastj, dealing' mth;the'iextra- • ordinary . manner.".; in which ..'■ it (■'■; appears'; the . appointment of.-teachers may.'bb' conducted; •"Sour'n-reproseiitatiTti 'deals <cl6ar]y;'with- the status,'. of. the.-.' several•' applicants',;,arid*- with ho i raisw;'aK/'' : oational authorities; but .'what' impresses', on© ; most:is 'the shocking:.want ',df/decency' that characterised. ■;;■■." VvFrwn): : : the:; e ,; that'; tho .chawman' ;'bf mitteby : "acting \ .JBbard) handed over'to.-.lhfcchairmanijOf'theynewly; elected' committee,.Hbe ,;appUcafabhs>!bf ! four' ; gentlemen.. ;supMsoMh|tr;rßuch' documents", tial,". and•wouldjibe' 'handlo'd'. by-t'h«>A' > coin- ! mitteo; .only. ; : -.Y«t|,: two''; beforb.\'that committee.;met; to;make,'thOjaprwintments;'' tho.Petone ''Chrohi.olo":,isablOj. and—having a • fine disregard • for the ..tradition's' ,'6f : 'Now, Zealand .willuig,;;to;publish the names ;6f the applicants, and. to .write a: leading, article,'ad vecating 1 the .claims, of 'one of them.' It would ; bo interesting' to know, sir, who was responsible for. divulging confidential communications'—and for' giving in- ' formation to the press, to be* used uv.Buch, an unwarrantable way.'. ';;-'. ■:;, : .',...;: 1' 'It is not so;much the injustice of tho act that condemns it, as the impropriety it 'shows;;' and the-vulgarity- of' making .the'. claims of ■ tho several applicants .a-, subject : for : public' discussion;' What,, wonder ■ that our most 'promising young men t avoid teaching as a 'profession 1 -I sincerely' sympathise with* the teachers'concerned/ over, the in r dignity which the . system of appointment .evidently leaves, room-to be;.in- • flicted on thorn, and 'I feel 'sure that the successful applicant-is a-s; much affected by this indignity- as'-the"others' must bei . . ".■■•,;, "'-Thai '''appointments' of teachers /can.,: be' made ; in 'such fashion .is a-reflection on bur. education, system in one of 'its. most, vital parts, v .la no other profession ;'■ would "applicants ;,fbr,' a. vacancy beVsubjected'"'-to: the indignities'/that may. apparently be put upon toachers, with: irnpunity,; Is it/fljot .time; that tW Statb.ihall.insist on- having its educational /house I ,put in; order, arid seo that in such an important matter as themerit of its .primary school teachers such appointments shall, be made with a .proper regard to justice 'and the decent 'claims.of ah ; honourable profession?—l;-,am,v etc;; '■'•■ ;' '■}%'■: '.:■:'■ -■'■\' y r'' ':t? ■■■'.PROFESSIONAL. ; ■ July 9. :;v ". ';';.,': ;;X; ■'■;;:■/;■;■:{