EDUCATION DISTRICT BOUNDARIES

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2476, 1 June 1915, Page 9

EDUCATION DISTRICT BOUNDARIES

, WELLINGTON POINT OF VIEW

NO EXTENSION SOUTH

PROMOTION OF TEACHERS The Education District Uouuitorlw Commission sat at Wellington ycetorilny morning. The meinliers of tho Oiiiiiuw6ion are:—Llessrs. A. D. Thomson (eliulrman), I). I'etrie, J. Strauchon, Ci. Hon* ben, and G. M. Thomson. The Natural Barrier, Tie Hon. J. G. W. Aitken, M.L.C. (chairman of the Wellington .Education Board), made a statement to tho Commission of the views of his board. "Tho "Wellington Education Board," no said, "takes the view that Cook Strait interposes a natural barrier to administrative union with Nelson and Jlarlborou«H of such a nature that tho Strait should continue to form tho southern boundary of tho district. The board is well awaro that, subject to administrative convenience, a larger area is more economically and more efficiently managed by olio than by soveral bodies; but increase of area should certainly be determined by considerations of administrative efficiency, including fair opportunity for promotion, which, of course, is an important factor of efficiency. As provision is wade in tno Education Act, 1911, for tho immediate creation of a Dominion grading of teachers the argument in favour of an oven distribution of the higher positions in the service amongst the different districts has, in fact, lost much in forco since the 1912 Commission reported. Sectiou 161 authorises tho issue of regulations for the examination classification and grading of teachers. Section 102 requires the Director; before June, 30 in each and every year, to publish in tho 'Gazette' a list of a.U teachers who are holders of certificates, classified and graded. Prom Section 171 it is evident Chat for all except a limited number of appointments the action of tho board must be largely governed by the grading of the applicants as H'eviously determined by the inspectorate in conference. In other words, subject to tho conditions imposed in relation to the grading scheme adopted, the relative positions occupied on the grading lists by applicants for appointment will determine the appointment irrespective of the district from \Vhiich tho applicant applies. Against Southward Expansion, "As considerations against southward expansion," Mr. Aitken added, "I note (1) Lack of .community of interest; (2) Tho great difficulty of welding into one homogeneous whole, districts and teaching staffs to north and south of the w.id® belt of Strait; (3) While it is not yet possible to frame a near estimate of cost, it is probable that the administrative charges of a composite district so broken up would be heavy beyond expectation, e.g., through probable duplication of certain services, cost in time and money in inter-island travelling of board and staff, freights, etc. Districts in North Island. "My board is not keenly desirous of increased territory. If, however, as seoms probable, a reduction in the number of North Island boards is made, my board Venturas to suggest that a reasonable redistribution of territory appears to be:, (a) The union of "Wanganui and Tnranaki; (b) An extension of Hawke's Bay by transfer from Auckland of a part of the country south of the Bay of Plenty. This would permit of an expansion of tho Wellington district northward, say over two counties to the west and two to tho east of the range. This could be administered from "Wellington with' ease, railway communication being direct and frequent along both lines—Jlanawatu and Wairarapa. The "board's Instructor in Agriculture weekly uses tho Gorge line to pass from Paniatua to Levin and Manawatu schools. This arrangement v.ould provide Hawke's Bay with an area for future development. In the meantime the percentage of first and secondclass positions in that district is above ] the average for the Dominion. The proposal to make a present distribution into 6even to nine districts ifl such a way as to give equality of proportion in the best appointments must fail. The proportion is less in the south than in the north, and, if it were not, the niOTe rapid development of the north would quickly make a change." Promotion of Teachers. By the Chairman and Mr. G. Hogbjn it was suggested to Mr. Aitken that as "Wellington had such a very much larger percentage of well-paid positions to offer to teachers tliau had Marlborough, it would be better for the teachers to unite the two districts in order to give tho teachers in 'the poor district better chances of promotion. It was made clear that the object of giving the teachers more chances of emolument was not ultimately to benefit the teachers, but to benefit the children, because good teachers would not remain in a district, might not even remain in the profession, an<t would not do their best work when there ivere no chances of better emolument. "Mr Aitken admitted the force of tho argument, but ho suggested that under, tho new system pf grading to be adopted the barriers against the transfer of teachers from one district' to another would be broken down. "Whether the importance of the promotion of teachers was to be considered greater than that of economy and efficiency of administration was a question for the Commission to determine. But the opinion of his board was that they would rather have Wellington district extended northward, or left with its present boundaries, than see it extended to include any territory on the other side of the Strait. Not the Main Question. Thomas Eeid Fleming, Senior Inspector for the Wellington District, supported the view of his board. He also argued that the Commission seemed to be attaching undue importance to the promotion of teachers in the division of the country into districts. It seemed to him that there were other principles which should guide the Commission. He suggested also that the proposed Dominion grading scheme, a scheme which he had never supported, would make it possible for teaebws to get promotion as they deserved it. inspectors were expected to advise the board as to the suitability of applicants for vacant positions, and they would select candidates on the Dominion grading, but also on their own knowledge. In the future, if inspectors under the centraliscd control were moved round, they would bo compelled more and more to rely on the Dominion grading. This state of affairs would make it just as easy for a tcachcr to get promotion outside his own district as within his own district. As to the fate of Nelson and Marlborough he admitted tihat they could not conveniently be joined to any oth'-r district, and he did 1 not contend that Nelson and Marlborough could not be administered from Wellington. It would doubtless be possible to administer even a larger area f.iinti Nelson and Marlborough. from Wellington. What he i'eared was that the district, if enlarged by the addition of Nelson and Marlborough, could not bo administered so well or so economically as the Wellington district was administered now. Tin- Wellington Board suggested t'.hat the Wellington district might be extended northward by the inclusion of the counties of Jlanawatu, Kairanga, Woodville, Dannevirke, and Weber.

The Commission will sit nynin this morning to hoar the evidence of the Director of Milliontion fljr. Anderson) an<l Mr. It. A. Parkin™!! (president of ilie New Zealand Educational In<-litufc).