APPOINTMENT OF TEACHERS

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2143, 8 May 1914, Page 7

APPOINTMENT OF TEACHERS

„ ' EVIl) OF CANVASSING. "It is common knowledge—teachers Imow it to their sorrow, committees know it, and education boards know it —that the applicant who can pull most strings, and who is prepared to stoop to canvass and to throw his own dignity to the winds is the teacher who climbs the ladder most readily to-day, ivhilo many a more deserving teacher who is too proud to do any of these things is left, at the bottom, or very, near it." said Mr. G. Flux, headmaster of the South Wellington School, in his annual report to the householders last night.' "Presently, * possibly, ho too succumbs, and the profession is by so much tho poorer. There is no personal application to my own. committeo in , \vhat r have said, but I would appeal ' to them to-night to throw their weight on tho side of justice to teachers, by passing n self-denying ordinance 'divest* (■ ing themselves of the little bit of patronage tho present law affords them. I could wish they, or, better still, tftis meeting, would petition the Minister of Eduoatibn to,include this reform in the' amendment of tlio' Education Act. promised for nijxt year. I'h'ave spoken plainly, because teachors be'st'.'know the degradation involved in the present method of appointment; : Personally, all things considered, I believo in a ceiitraliscd system of appointment. It has its disadvantages, I know. Wo get no system, that is perfect, but it 1 ■ can not well bo \yorso, and might easily bo worso than the present anomalous system, in which responsibility for a bad appointment can bo sheeted homo to _iio 'person or bod.v of persons. Appointments are purely a lottery at present." Tho headmaster's report was adopted, and the meeting carried a resolution that tho section of Mr. Flux's report referring to the appointment of , teachers bo forwarded to the Minister of , 'Education. '