GRADING OF TEACHERS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2716, 10 March 1916, Page 3

GRADING OF TEACHERS

•— ,- NEW SCHEME IN'VIEW; . A most, important reform in connection with tlie education system of New Zealand will shortly be introduced by the Hon. J. A. Hanan, Minister of Education. The Education Act for 1914 provides that before June 30 in -each year a list shall be published in the 'Jazette showing the grading of all teachers who are holders of certificates under the Act. Owing to various reasons ■ such a grading list was not gazetted last year, but the present Minister of Education intimated to the House last session that it was his intention to have tho same published this, year. Interviewed yesterday regarding the progress that': had been, made with this work, tho Minister stated Uiai, the Assistant Director of Educalon, who was now engaged on same, haa already visited oleven of the-edu-cation districts'in connection therewith, 'and in soveral districts tho proposed .grading was almost completed. Referring to representations he had iecei"ed from the Auckland Assistant Masters' Association, urging that the Dominion scheme for the grading of teachor3'be postponed for some years, the Minister stated that in proceeding promptly and . vigorously with ■ the scheme he was meeting the long-felt tind often-expressed desires of the great mass of tho teachers, as voiced by the New Zealand Educational Institute. To comply with the existing statutory provision, and give effect to his promise, the Hon. J. A. Hanan went on to say that it was imperative that the grading be preceded, with with as little delay as circumstances would permit, and commitments already made would not allow of postponement. It was noteworthy that 110 request for delay or discussion of the basis of the scheme had been received from teachers other than from a section in Auckland. On the contrary, appreciation of his (the Minister's) prompt action had been widely expressed in other districts, and numerous telegrams and letters had reached him regretting the attitude of the Auckland Assistant Masters' Association, and urging the early adoption of the grading scheme. The protest put forward by the Auckland Assistant Masters' Association should not, in justice to the great majority of teachers in New Zealand, be accepted as a sound ■reason for ' postponement. Teachers, generally, recognise the need for the early accomplishment of . the work, and are apprehensive lest the scheme may be lost by further delay. Such general and emphatic representations. , in this connection could not be ignored by the Minister, who was not prepared to accept the responsibility for postponement. "The executive of the New Zealand Educational Institute discussed this mattor for years, and ultimately refrained from presenting for adoption a grading scheme, but urged that the Department should take the work in hand at the earliest opportunity. No doubt the members of the Auckland . Assistant Masters' Association, . who _ are enjoying the benefits under a district grading scheme, can urge without concern the postponement for some years 'of a Dominion grading scheme, but the Minister recognises that he has a'duty to the teachers as a whole (probably over 4000), including other and smaller districts than Auckland. They areanxio'uely looking for the early adoption of a Dominion grading scheme in order that tlieq, too, may bo frec<l from the disadvantages that now obtain.".