GRADING TEACHERS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2830, 22 July 1916, Page 11

GRADING TEACHERS

NEW SCHEME EXPLAINED . AN ADDRESS TO TEACHERS A. fully attended mooting of the Wellington District Institute of Teachers was held last evening; whon Air. J. Caughley, Assistant Director of Education, delivered an. address on some of the spe-. cial features of til© new grading list. Ho explained that his idea was to give teachers a clearer understanding as to their rclativo positions on tho list and also to recoivo suggestions in-regard to-future alterations in the new scheme. Mr. J. Costin Webb presided, and said that tho Minister of Education should b'o specially thanked for allowing Mr. Caughloy to explain the scheme to tho teachers. In liis opening, remarks, Mr. Caughley 6aid that there had not been the slightest difficulty in obtaining tho permission of tho Minister, or the Director of Education (Dr. Anderson), for him to deliver the address, because it was intended that all tho teachers should Ijo mot personally, . and .then tho resulting. discussion would no, doubt point out weaknesses in tho scheme. Hasty judgments had been made by teachers, and this was tho cause of certain misunderstandings. About 3500 teachers had been- graded in New Zealand,, and it would have been almost a jniraclo if every one of those teachers had been satisfied. .If was known that the scheme ■ was not perfect yet in every detail, but certain principles must bo placed to tho credit of it. Anomalies had existed before tho scheme was issued, and the classified list had been responsible for pointing theso oiit. Previous to tho new grading scheme- coming into force classifications !and otlior.matters in that connection-had been done in a haphazard wav, Now all this had bean dona away with.' The'-fading of teachers u;as aiot the only thing which was being under the new system. Other data in connection with various centres was -being. obtained. .Mr. , Caughley went on. to explain in detail the system under which teachers had been graded.- By adopting the "group.' system" it w»s found that it would bo much .move satisfactory than, tlio. old style'of'grading. He. maintained tliat many anomalies which had occurred in the past would be eradicated. Under tho present system, teachcr's would be in a much better'position financially and otherwise.

In conclusion tho speaker said that the regulations did not allow the exposure of marks, and it was' not intended that detailed marks should be given. Touching on the question of appeal, he said that the'proper ground of appeal was that one teacher- should be .placed on an equality . with another. At present no regulations . could' bo framed governing appeals, because-the Department did not know, in what form - tho appeals would bo brought forward. As soon as all tho appeals aro received a form, of appeal .will be brought .forward and announced later. Blunders had been made in grading lists in the past, and now the Department was in a position to know of these mistakes.. Ally suggestions made by teachers would be welcomed by tho Department, and it was, only by: these means, that the scheme could bo perfected. Finally Mr. Caughloy suggested that teachers should appoint a small committee from their numbers and go fully into the whole matter of complaints, etc. This committee, which should consist of uiibJased persons, could then givo their judgment on tho working of • the nev scheme to the Department. On tho motion of Mr. W. Foster, a hearty vote of thanks was accorded to the Minister of Education, and also to •Mr. Caughley for his address. The meeting then .went into committee to discuss certain matters in connection with the scheme, and. Mr.Caughley answered questions, etc..