GRADING OF TEACHERS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 259, 29 July 1919, Page 6

GRADING OF TEACHERS

4 DISCUSSED. BY EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTE

PROMOTION AND EFFICIENCY

A meeting of tho Wellington branch of the New Zealand Teachers' Institute was held at the offices of the Education Board last night. Mr. C. N. Ilaslam was in. the chair.

Tho meeting 'resumed consideration of the following motion, moved at the preceding meeting by Mr, W. Eowntree:— "The the opinion of this branch is that the prasent grading scheme is most unsatisfactory and ought to be abolished." Mr. Kowntree said that the present quota system of grading was not doing justice to. the teachers. Too large a proportion of the marks were beyond the oontrol of the grading officers, while no more than three or four education boards were using the grading scheme in making appointments. If the grading list were made the promotion list, many years 'would elapso before the cruel anomalies that had arisen under the quota system were removed. He was aware that ;n proposing only 15 marks for literary attainments, he was incurring the displeasure of the teachers possessed of degrees. ; He did not see that under the present grading a degree was all that it could be and snoukl-be.to a teacher. Tho teacher could get his degree without tcking subjects that-were required in his profession, and gaining a degree did not necessarily' broaden the mind. The chairman said he thought there was too much division among the teachers already, and the creation of three graded, lists would not help matters. A teacher needed to know where he or she stood in relation to the whole profession. Miss Myers l suggested that file quota marks would be of real value if they were awarded for special effort or aptitude in some branch of the profession. The chairman said the quota had served its purpose, but the time had come for a 1 better method of allotting the marks. Tho quota had put the teacher* in some sort of relation to one another, but anomalies had arisen that required to be removed. He thought the quota could be allowed to drop now, and moro marks placed at the disposal of the inspectors, who at had only 47 marks within wKich to differentiate between the most experienced head teacher and the rawest assistant. If the inspector had 160 or more marks at' his disposal, a much fair-jr adjustment would be possible. The quota system had not given satisfaction. Discontent was rampant in the service After further discussion the motion was carried unanimously. Mr. Itowntree then moved: "That the following' grading schonie should be adopted—(l) there should be three graded lists, viz., (a) head teachers, (b) male assistants, (c) assistants; the marks should be: -Efficiency 160, services 25, literary attainments 15 (A Certificate 15. B Certificate 14, C Certificate 13, D Certificate 9): total, 200.

This proposal was discussed at some lensrth. Some speakers expressed the opinion that the larger tho number of graded lists'the greater tho _ prospect of Retting uniformity iri the districts. It was not considered reasonable that a •young, assistant should be graded in the same class as •an experienced head teacher. ■ i

Mr. P. M. Jackson pointed out that tho scheme made no provision at all for sole teachers.

Mr. Eowntree said he had no Objection to another, class being added. Speakers suggested that salaries, ought to be paid on tho grade and qualifications of the teacher, not on the position occupied. A lady teacher mentioned that in London the . teacher received a fixed salary, regardless cf the position occupied, on leaving tho training college. This salary increased by annual increments. Mr. A. Graham moved as an amendment: "That there bo only ono graded list for all teachers." Miss Myers said ;hat no other proposal would be logical in view of the teachers' demand for grading solely on efficiency. The amendment was carried. A further motion that the grading should be based on efficiency, service, and literary attainments was carried, in subutitution for the second portion of Mr. Eowntree's motion.