EDUCATIONAL MATTERS.

Gisborne Times, Volume VII, Issue 460, 2 July 1902, Page 3

EDUCATIONAL MATTERS.

JUSTICE FOR COUNTRY TEACHERS. By Telegraph—Press Association. Christchurch, last night. Mr D. Buddo, Chairman of the North Canterbury Education Board, at a mooting this morning, spoke strongly in support of giving country teachers greater opportunities to rise in the profession. He movod, “ That in future, to be eligible for appointments as first assistant master in schools with averago of 350 and upwards, or second assistant master in ono of tho city schools, applicants must have had previous experience as a head teacher.” Mr Buddo said that tho Board received rnauy plaintivo complaints in regard to the present condition of things. Country teachers wore hopeless of rising to a higher position, as tho hoad-masters in tho big schools woro selected from city teachors. Head toacherships wero not plentiful, it was true, but ho thought that if any “ gilt-edged ” positions wore to bo givon away country teachers, who had absolutely lostbopo and wero sick at heart through weary waiting, should havo tho same opportunities as city toachers. Tho present system of appointing head teachors was wroDg, apart from tho equity of tho quostion, as a country teacher often had to attend to six different standards, and had a good ground work of training, whilo an assistant master in town had but one standard.

The members of the Board generally lupported the motion, which was carried , md will come into force on August 1.