DISSATISFIED.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1267, 24 October 1911, Page 6

DISSATISFIED.

TEACHERS AND THEIR PROFESSION

NO APPEAL FROM TRANSFERS.

SECURITY OF TENURE GONE.

Grave dissatisfaction, and a spirit of serious unrest, is spreading throughout tho teaching profession in connection with the disinclination of the Prime Minister (Sir Joseph Ward) to deal this session" with the very urgent question of providing teachers with statutory means of appealing against transfers. The official organ of the New Zealand Educational Institute, in its current issue (just to hand), devotes a special article to what it characterises as "a distinct breach of faith" on the part of the Government.

Security of Tenure. States tho "Journal of Education" :— "The Teachers' Court of Appeal Act was established for tho express purpose of giving teachers security of tenure so long as tliev carried out in a satisfactory manner' tfie duties required of them. No legislation in connection with our education system ever gave greater satisfaction to teachers or did more to allay such feelings of unrest as existed among teachers at the timo the Act was passed. In spite of this, the Education Amendment Act of last, session renders inoperative thosn privileges which were conferred under tho Court of Appeal Act. Under the Amending Act, Education Boards were given unlimited powers of transfer. No ono doubts that boards should possess certain powers of transfer, and in justice to education boards it must bo admitted that almost without exception they have used those powers with discretion. But in some instances indications point in tho direction that such powers arc to be used in tin arbitrary manner, and with disastrous results to the cause of education. That boards should havo power to transfer a teacher from grade 10 to grade I, and that such teacher should be denied that right of appeal which is granted to all other branches of the public service, is not characteristic of British love of justice and fair play. Ample evidence can bo produced to show that sucli a curtailment of the privileges of teachers was never for one moment contemplated by the Legislature-; and the opportunity given, members of Parliament would be only too willing to provide fox appeal apiinst what a teacher considered an unjust transfer. Ministerial Promises. "That a Bill would bo introduced to "ivo effect tu tho wishes of teachers was promised by Mr. FovlcU, late Minister for Education, and it is certainly unfortunate for teachers that ho resigned his office as Minister before having an opportunity to remedy what he recognised_ as an injustice. Tho executive of the New Zealand Education InstiUitu brought the matter under the notice of the ActingMinister for Education, and received from him a definite promise that an amending Bill would be introduced this session. Yet within IS hours of that promise being mnde. we find that the Bill is not.' to be proceeded irith this session. Needless to say,,teachers are keenly disappointed that • their hopes thus raised should be so suddenlj dashed to the ground. Is it to be expected that a teachor can put his wholfc soul into his work when, through no fault of his own, he may incur the displeasure of some influential nioraber of an education board and thus give that member an opportunity to carry his petty spite to such a length that the teacher may bo degraded to mako room for one of that member's particular friends? Yet such a position is quite possible. Again, a teacher transferred to a lower grade suffers a reduction in salary, and consequently in his superannuation allowance. Why should any board have the power to tako away the broad anil butter from a man and 'his family in their old ape without that man having, the right to appeal against such an injustice?

"No Possible Excuse." "Had any groat change of policy been necessary, teachers would have- recognised that it might be advisable to postpone tho introduction of an amending Bill till next session. But when tho introduction of a few word? into the Appeal Act is sufficient to reinstate those privileges which the Government previously legislated to confer, and which members of Pailiamcnt, who had no intention of curtailing them, are only waiting nu opportunity to restore, there can be no possible excusu.fot the dropping of the Bill. Particularly so, when its introduction was definitely promised. It is to be hoped that the teachers of the Dominion and their friends will not tamely submit 'o what Kin not but bo considered as a distinct breach of faith. The time has arrived when the New Zealand Educational Institute should seriously consider whether or not a Teachers' Onion should be formed as has been done in other parts of the world. So far, teachers in this Dominion have ho'.d aloof from the idea, iind it is just r|ue>lio'iablo whether they have in tho past fully realised tho necessity for such a union. Teachers are now strong enough to make their power felt, and with thorough organisation they are'iri a position to demand what in the past they have had to appeal for.

A Paternal Government? A prominent member of the Teachers' Institute, discussing tho present situation with a representative of The Dominion, remarked that "after two distinct and direct promises—the first by the late Minister for Education (Mr. Fowlds), and the second, more reoently, by the ActingMinistor for that Department (thu Hon. T. Mackenzie), teachers are utterly at a loss to understand the Prime Minister's action in deferring till some vague occasion in the future of legislation which will restore to the profession that security ol tenure which, once held by them, has since been lost by Uio introduction of tho transfer system. It

is claimed for the present Government," he proceeded, "that it has done moro for teachers than any other Government. That is true, and it could hardly be otherwise, since tho Government has been twenty years in office, ami has had an immensely larger system to operate upon, and more than double the money to carry on its operations with. It is true that the present Government, or at leant tho same party, has instituted a colonial scheme of staffs and salaries, has granted freedom of classification, and has founded a superannuation scheme. All those reforms have been instituted for tile general improvement of the education of the people of this country, and in the general benefit of education the teachers should of course have their share. Hut the teachers themselves know well that diere are various matters connected with their service that show that by the mighty ones at the head of the Government "tho great lx>dy of teachers is not regarded with so much affection as, say, the officials of the Police or Railways or Postal Departments. It is only necessary to look at the various scales of salaries to see tho truth of this. Compare tho average salary of the teacher, .£l3l Bs. Bd., per year, with that of the policeman, the postal clerk, the railway clerk, and so on. Add this fact, that the minimum salary in tho teaching profession is £VS a year, and any teacher taking a now appointment in the highest grade must commence at .C 370 a year. It is true liond teachers receive house allowance, but that is true also in some cases in the other services. Teachers' Pensions.

"Then there is that very soie point, tho computation of pensions. In the course of service it may bo advisable or even necessary that an official should bo reduced to a lower and loss responsible position; he will necessarily roceivo a reduced salary. In the case of the general Civil Sorvant this reduction will not affect his pension, which will bo computed on his three best years, i.e., the- three years of highest salary. For the teacher, and lor the teacher only, tho pension is computed on tho three last years, i.e., tho tlireo years of reduced salary, such petty dipcriminotion as this ejin only defeat its owu object, for most boards, rather than penalise an old servant, through his pension, will retain him in his position even though he ought perhaps for tho take of efficiency to bo transferred to a lower one. Another cause of friction in connection with the superannuation fund is the withholding from teachers who did not join when the fund was first established the option of coming into tho amended fund. Inspec ; I tois have the option., clerks in boards

offices have the option, school cleaners have the option, tjiit teachers are debarred. AVhy tliis is so has nover been explained.

That Famous "Minimum." "Only too clearly do teachers remember tho attempt that was made three years ago to deprive them o.f tlio incrementsot salary provided in the scale that was then introduced. While members of Parliament and teachers and tho general public all thought that tho scale was to be made immediately effective, tho Government attempted fo mako use of a technicality to postpone the coming into action of the scale tor as much as, in mine cases, six or seven years. Only by a threat of litigation could tho Government bo induced to carry its promises into immediate effect. For this also no reason has ever been given—it can only bo surmised. But it is in its latest Act of educational legislation that Hie Government has shown, more clearly than in anything el=c, its attitude of mind towards the teachers. Tho reference i=, of course, to the surreptitious abolition of the right of appeal. It is known that the members of Parliament are practically unanimous in its favour. The Prime Minister, Sir Joseph Ward, in reply to tho member for Cnalmers, on Wednesday l;Lst, said that the matter was being carefully considered, but it raised a big question", because he did not believe that tho right oould be given to one branch and not another, and that would lead to the dislocation of business, particularly in the railway service, where quick transfers were necessary to meet sudden exigencies. The same difficulty would occur in other services, and although ho did not soy he was opposed to the proposal, it could not' be legislated on this session. "Error and Confusion." "It is doubtful if any Minister of tho Crown ever before crammed into such small space so much error and confusion as is contained in this answer. It compares the teaching service with the railway service, when tho two ore not comparable at all. The railway service is under direct Government control, and under a systematic classification; tho teaching service is under boards. In the railway s&rvice a man may, up to a certain point, refuse a transfer; 0 teacher cannot, except by grace of the board. In the railway service, quick transfers may be necessary; in the teaching service theyaro not only not necessary, but arc prohibited by the terms of tho Act. Lastly, if a railway servant is transferred, his expenses'of transit for self and household are paid—the teacher has to pay his own. What is true of tho railway sorvico is true in the main of the postal, police, and other services—tho teaching service is on quite a different footing, and howSir Joseph Ward can have, spoken as ho did is past comprehension.

"L'qunlly difficult to understand," concluded the speaker, "is the reason for the emasculation of the Teachers' Court of Appeal. It was dono without a word ijfiid. It is almost certain that not a member of the Houso outside tho Ministry knew what was intended, or received ' any intimation of tho effect of the amendment. The Court of Appeal had served its purpose, and was very little used. Teachers and boards alike were satisfied, and each made wiso and. discriminating use of the powers they possessed. No one asked for any amendment, no one know it was being made, and no ,ono yet knows why it was made. And yet the Primo • Minister has discovered that various considerations, that do not in fact exist at all, are to be taken into account as reasons against granting the relief asked for. The Prime Minister's remarks will bo welcome to teachers in at least ono Tespcct—they will know exactly what to expect from him if ho returns to power at the general election. Why he should have so needlessly driven into opposition ' such a powerful voting body as the teachers it is hard to see. It may easily affect anything up to 5000 votes at the coming election. 'AVhom the gods wish to destroy they first make mad.' "