TECHNICAL SCHOOLS

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 194, 12 May 1921, Page 7

TECHNICAL SCHOOLS

TEACHERS MAKE SUGGESTIONS

DEPUTATION TO THE

MINISTER

Representatives of the Technical School Teachers’ Association interviewed the •Minister of Education (Hon. C. .1. Parr) yesterday morning, and made a. number of suggestions regarding the grading system and tho regulations governing technical education. Mr. W. J. Thompson headed the deputation, and in some opening remarks said that while the technical teachers had certain minor grievances, they wished to say that they had confidence in tho Minister of Education and in the administration of the Department. The teachers generally approved and supported the reforms that had recently lieen introduced, and were satisfied, generally speaking, that the grading scheme was a step in the right direction. Iheio were certain anomalies in the interpretation of the scheme. For instance, tho assessment of qualifications, the in ' el " pretation of “qualifications equivalent to university degrees” was being narrowlv interpreted. If full recognitin were’ given to the efforts of teachers who had improved themselves and were a - readv in rosjxmsible positions, most ot the ’trouble that had arisen would Im obviated. Certain teachers had been degraded and had lost positions they had formerly occupied. . Mr Parr said that in the institution of a new scheme, it was likely that sowe men would be found holding j for which they were not fully qunh ed or for which other men were better qualified. Mr. Thompson said the directors tmi"sclves felt that the grading had bee too rigidly enforced in some . Tho Minister pointed out that the opinions of the directors did cover the whole field. The grading officers had to consider the qualifications of all tl teachers, not merely the teachers of particular school. Each teacher graded, had the right of appeal and could call the attention of the Apppeal ®oa to any- special qualifications ho posSP Mr. Thompson said it was a on of interpretation. . “Eqmvalenl: QUnl fication” was being interpreted as i <> lie rear course at Hr University. Certai? teachers holding high positions, and posesred of high qualifications,. had ot this particular qualification since> m >' a course had not been availablo at the time when they were receiving theu trainin'’ Mr. Thompson proceeded to tho rector of Education, about to be sl The lie an expert in technical education. Ihe increasing importance of tion was being TC , co S nlse< J’.“ t PC h. Assistant-Director belonged to the tech nical branch, the balance would be held in a desirable fashion. Miss Robertson expressed warm approval of the general operation of the arndin" scheme. She suggested some data led amendments, such as the recognition of the possession of a second and of ability in out-of-school actnities among the children. She did not think that tho maximum ealaiy of JW fn Division 2 was sufficient io attract the beet men from outside avenues of employment. She urged th at special consideration should bn given to the c< of teachers who held high P oslfc '.°"? f were doing very good work suffered in grading because in then y o or years they had not secured certain cultural certifications Other members of the deputation Tamed various points. They sifted ( tho toachin'’ 'hours in technical bchoo.o should not exceed 25 hours per "’eek, as in tho primary and secondary s c'° ols ; Some of tho teachers had to woik a great deal of broken time. They started at 9 am., and finished at 9.30 p.®- I l '® reflations should be so framed that broken time would be reduced by meanof improved organisation. Certain directors had succeeded ,n red,l , cu !? 1 time Another request was that Ol agreements should be regarded as haviTu extinguished by the Some teachers were being held to U e terms of the original agreements. 11 Station asked that .tune .given by teachers to the siipervision of eP« rts school hours should .count ai; teat 9 time. The teachers, m any case, vou d give a great deal of t'heir own tin o to tho sports of their pupils. Lho desnability of 'increased expenditure on Ct • Zi suggested, and Britain’s Education Act, costing about £20,000,060 a The ’Ministar pointed out U ‘ ak Zealand’s expenditure on education lias already higher than Britain’s expends ‘“peakers suggested that, the Departmeat should bo generous in making al lowances for the use of motion pie tints in tho schools. A library ot suitabio films might bo built up. Departmental examinations in technical subjects would raise the standard of teclintoal education and give tho students an improied status. -A higher leaving certificate for technical schools was suggested Ast i dent should l>e able to go through io tho university from the technical school as well as from the secondary school At mesont tho technical school student h.u final examination with a Dominion St The' l Minister, in -’eply, said that ihe grading of technical school teaclieis, dealin-’ with a wide variety of subjoc S, had been a'very difficult matter, and he did not wonder that certare anouije» bad appeared. He thought that a sut prisingly large degree of succe-ss had been attained. Substantial increases hm been made in the salaries ot teclnr a school teachers, and promotion ha been made to depend upon me 1 ami qualifications instead of on the decision of an education boa . An assertion that the <• Images had been intended to effect centralisation had been made by some people who did not understand the position. k ' l ' atl " l h' had been impossible on any other than • Dominion basis. Air.. 'Darr proceeded to sav that ho was not in favour oi pleasing undillv the academic attainments ot old and experienced technical .school teachers. With regard io salaries, lie had to say I hat while small adjustments might be possible, his inside knowledge of’the fniiuicial position of the country prevented him holding out any hope ot increased salaries at present. The Minister promised to look into the points 11ml had been raised by the deputation. The matter of broken hours seemed to require attention. He did not need to be assured of the importance of maintaining ihe expenditure -.m education. Ho agreed that the technical schools ought to have a standard test and a leaving eei-lilit-ale. which would be equivalent to the matriculation certificate. Mr. Purr added that he agreed that the As-sistant-Director of Education ought io have experience of technical and postpiimarv education. He would regard it as something of a calamity if such a man were not secured. But he had no voice in the making of the appointment, tho authority being the Public Service Commissioner. Be had been glad to notice that this officer, in inviting applications for the position, indicated that post-primary experience would be r. qualification. The Minister adder! that lie was glad to have, the support of the teachers in his efforts for the betterment of their conditions and the improvement of technical education throughout Hie I lominion.