THE SCHOOL WORLD.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1240, 23 September 1911, Page 11

THE SCHOOL WORLD.

A WEEKLY REVIEW. NOTES FROM TOWN AND COUNTRY Teachers and others interested in tho administration of education aro invited to contribute notes for 'publication in "Tho School World." Theso should be addressed to tho Editor, "Tho School World," The Dominion. Wellington, and posted to reach this olflco not later than Wednesday in each weeK. Correspondents desiring enlightenment upon any question in connection witn the _ school wurU, or the general administration of tho education system, are invited to submit these points to the. Editor for elucidation and reply. Where anonymity is desired, it will 00 strictly observed.

SCHOOL LIBRARIES. WELLINGTON EDUCATION BOARD'S ideas: The Wellington Education Bo&rd views with great satisfaction the interest generally taken by school committees and teachers in the maintenance of school libraries, which are a valuable means of disseminating knowledge and of affording opportunity for pleasant, recreation, and recently circulated a suggestive list of books suitable for school libraries. "The school committees will do well to consult leading booksellers from time to time for information touching recent publications," .states the board in its circular. '.'The list contains books adapted to the capacity of children in the several classes of schools, and, in the building of a school library, tho lower classes should not be lost sight of and separate compartments, should bo provided for the several standards in which children are classcd. Many of ,the excellent books for younger children published at a few pence are also good reading for all children. It is undesirable that a large section of tho school library should consist of mere story books, but books 011 well-told history, the elements of botany, astronomy, natural history, recent travel, well-selected biography, nnd poetry are most suitable. Good * illustrations and readable print should be taken into account, and also the strength of the binding when books are obtainable in different forms. School committees are advised to set apart a portion of their revenue every year for tho purchase of new hooks, otherwise the library will sooii lose interest. As far as its means will allow, the board is willing at all times to supplement funds raised for this purpose. The board regards "with approval the encouragement given by tho Wellington City to the establishment of children's libraries. The chief librarian lias, with the sanction of his council, organised a children's department, in charge of a specially-quali-fied librarian.' This scction of tho public library should do a great deal to stimulate | healthy reading. In applying for a subsidy on money raised for the school library, the committee is requested to send to the board a statement of the amount raised for the purpose of buying library books; for approval before purchase, a list of books to be bought with this amount and the subsidy; and, after payment of tho subsidy, receipts for- tho whole amount expended on library books."

GRADING OF TEACHERS. THE WANGANTJI SYSTEM. 4A concise and instructive resume of the system adopted by the Wanganui Education Board for the grading of its teaching staff appears in the board's annual report, incorporated in the annual report of the Minister for Education, presented to Parliament the other day. All certificated teachers in the service were graded by the inspectors during. the year Tho basis of grading was fixed by the allocation of marks under the different heads as follows:—Teaching skill (maximum -15 ,marks), discipline aiid. personality .(25 marks), attention to environment (5 marks), .scholastic attainments. (15 .Marks), service -.(10 marks). Marks for scholastic attainments were -awarded as follow:— Class A certificate, 15; B, 13;. C, 11; D, 8; E, L For service, one mark was allotted for each two years of service in the public schools of New Zealand. Teachers have been notified of the details of their grading, but. not of the numerical positions which their names occupy on the graded lists. In tho matter of tho promotion of teachers, the board has Tesolved that in tho case of all appointments only one name—viz., that of-tho teacher standing highest on the graded list—be submitted to the school committee concerned; and, further, that no teacher in future appointed to any position in a school of higher grade than 6a shall bo eligible for promotion unless ho or' sho has served for at least two years in a country school—i.e., in a school having a-staff of not. more than two adult teachers. It has been further resolved that in making future appointments the board consider only tho applications of teachers who shall have been two years at. least in their present positions;' provided that in any particular case, if there be exceptional circumstances or hardship, tho board may relax the operation of this general rule.

THE TRANSFER SYSTEM. AFTER SIX MONTHS' TRIAL. During the past year the Taranaki Education Board has, in order to fully take advantage of the provisions of the 190S Act for the transfer and appointment of teachers,' adopted what is familiarly 'known'as the transfer system." It may be of interest to committees (states tho board in its annual report), and remove certain misconceptions, to briefly outline tho system. The inspectors grado all teachers in the board's employ in four sections—(l) Head teachers, certificated; (2) assistants, certificated; (3) head teachers, uncertificated; (1) assistants,'uncertificated. In each grade marks are allotted as follow Service. 10 (2 years, 1 mark); academic attainment, 15; teaching proficiency, 40; personality and discipline, 20; "organisation, 10; environment, 5: . total, 100 marks. From the marks awarded teachers will be classified ill rank as follows; Rank 1, SO to 100; Rank 2, 70 to 79; Rank 3, 65 to 69; Rank 4, 60 to 64; Rank 5, 55 to 59; Rank 6, 50 to 54; Rank 7, 45' to 49; Rank 8, 40 to 400; Rank 9, 30 to 39; Rank 10, 20 to 29. On a vacancy occurring a teacher is selected from tiie list of his grade and to whom the transfer would mean promotion, i On the teacher's consent to the transfer being obtained, the name, with his testimonials and all particulars, is forwarded tojdie committee with the notification that objections to the transfer must be sent to the board prior to a certain date. At the next meeting of tho board any objections- from any committeo are ciire- i fully considered, and if deemed to be rca-' sonable and justified the transfer is. not proceeded, with. During the six months tho system lias been in operation nine transfers havo been made. Tho advantages of the new system summed up bricfl ly are: (1) Merit is the basis for tho promotion of teachers; (2) teachers whose relations with their committees become strained may be transferred to' other schools (3) back-blocks teachers whoaro doing good work can bo brought into central positions, whereby tho chance of securing promising yonng teachers is enhanced; (4) teachers who. have special qualifications for certain'subjects can bo placed in positions where their talents can bo used to tho greatest advantage." The time for receiving entries for tho teachers' D and C certificate examinations of January, 1912, is'extended to October 15, 1911, or, with tho late fee, to October 31, 1911. This extension does not apply to any examinations other than thoso for teachers' D and C certificates, states an announcement in the Now Zealand Gazette..