PROMOTION OF SCHOOL TEACHERS

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2126, 8 July 1907, Page 4

PROMOTION OF SCHOOL TEACHERS

At a recent meeting of the Auckland Educational Institute discussion took jilaco on a scheme brought forward by the Promotion Committee. - Mr. Newton pointed out that it had been their intention in compiling the report to avoid localisation and centralisation. Provision had been made for an expert Board of Classifiers, with right of appeal for the teachers. The promotion list would clearly correlate’positions, and would provido for promotion only from subclass to sub-class. So far as ho knew, the method of grading had called forth criticism only to the effect that elliciency and personality should bo allotted 60 per cent. Against this he would urge that these two things were most difficult to estimate. Another point was that a-mode of filling vacancies was suggested. As a committee they desired their scheme to be discussed, and would carefully consider all suggestions made or flaws pointed out. The chief difficulty with which they were faced was the number of schemes being put forward. Briefly, their scheme was to provide a middle course between extreme localisation and centralisation. Air Newton also explained at length the scheme for grouping the various education districts for the purposes of the promotion of teachers. tie presented the first clause (A) detailing the system of grouping the districts, ns follows: “That for the purposes of the promotion of teachers, the various education districts as at present constituted he grouped as follows: —District: No. 1, Auckland' No. 2, Wanganui and Taranaki: No. 3, Wellington, Hawke’s Bay. Nelson, and Marlborough; No. 4, Westland, Grey, North Canterbury, and South Canterbury: No. o, Otago and Southland.”

Air. 'Cousins seconded the motion for the adoption of the clause. An amendment by Mr. Lippiatt, that any such scheme for promotion be entirely of a colonial character, was lost, Messrs. Newton and Cousins .pointing out that such a system would be impracticable on account of the distance of the centres from one another. and the fact that tlio teachers themselves were at variance among themselves on the subject, fi’lie clause itself was approved, It-was unanimously decided to approve of clause B. which reads as follows: “That the inspectors of the promotion districts so constituted, meeting as a hoard of classifiers, shall, annually, in the month of December, consider the applications of all teachers desirous of being placed on the promotion list for that district, and shall grade tho applicants in the manner hereinafter prescribed. But tlie board of classifiers shall not place on the list tho flame of any applicant

who, in their opinion, has not merited promotion.” Clauso C noxt camo up for approval,, tlio mooting, boing unanimous in agreoin™ as to tho desirability of such a system as that proscribed coming into eftoct. Tlio clauso roads as follows: “Any touclior employed by an Education Board within the promotion district in which ho is seeking promotion, dissutisfiod by reason or tlio omission of liis name from tho promotion list, or its position on that list, shall have tho right of appeal to tho Education Board by which ho is employed. If tlio. Education Boai;d doom it necessary, it may order a further inspection of tlio tonolicr’s work with a view to his ro-olassilication. 1“° Education Board may, for any sufficient reason, such as nogloct of duty or misdemeanour, romovo from tho promotion list tho namo of any teacher in its employ previously classified as deserving promotion. But tho Board -shall not tnko such extreme action' without spocificalK stating to tlio toucher the cause for so doing. Any toaOlior whoso name has boon so removed shall liavo tlio right of appeal to tho Minister of Education, who may ordor independent inquiry into tlio circumstances of tho caso and thereafter confirm or annul tlio Board’s decision.” Some discussion took place in connection with tho particulars of clauso Dof tho soliomo. Mr. Cousins explained tho various clauses or this section, which provides that any teacher sooking .transfer or promotion shall specifically stato on application to which of tlivoo classos no seeks promotion. Tho. throe classes to bo sub-divided into six minor clussos, Mr. Cousins remarked in connection with this clause, that under it teachers of lower grado schools would bo paid relatively higher salaries. It was considered that at present salaries wore too dependent upon the grado of the schools. Even with the present scalo tlio scheme would work all right, although still hotter with an amended scalo. , Mr. Ramsay remarked that tho whole scheme seemed to bo still based on attendance. Mr Cousins explained in reply that the grade of a school must always largely count in regard to salaries. Ho thought that an educational system such as that proposed would have to be based on a commercial, mi economical system. Skill and weight of responsibility must be recognised as being worthy of greater pay, otherwise the duffers might be paid as much as the able man. They wanted to get the best teachers for the best positions, and grades must be allowed accordingly. AVitli regard to infant teachers* those who desired to bold higher positions in this section should occupy lower ones first. It was decided to adopt the clause with one or two minor modifications. It was decided to amend the existing basis for the awarding of marks as presented in tlio report by substituting the following figures: Ist, Efficiency and Personality, 0 pe>- cent, to 60 per cent.; 2nd, Educational Attainments, literary and otherwise, 0 per cent, to 20 per cent.; 3rd, Length of Service, say, 1 lier cent, for each vear of service, 0 per cent, to 20 per cent. Further consideration qf tlio proposals was adjourned until the next meeting of tho Institute.