DISSATISFIED SCHOOL TEACHERS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2150, 5 August 1907, Page 2

DISSATISFIED SCHOOL TEACHERS.

MORE PAYMENT AND PROPER CLASSIFICATION DEMANDED. A LOCAL SUGGESTION* At a meeting of the local branch of tho Teachers’ Institute on Saturday, Mr. G. E. Daiton, one of tho local members of tho Education Board addressed tho mooting on tho subject of promotions and salaries. Mr. Darton stated that ho had given notice of, motion that tho Hawkes Bay Education Board at their next meeting should review tho whole position respecting tho appointment and payment of, teachers. Tho present system was bristling with anpnialies, and gravo injustice was done in many cases. It was imperative that someone should move in tlio matter, and when ono board took tho matter up tho others would follow as a matter of course, and a better system must evontuato. To dwell on the fallacy or tho injustice of payment oil average attendance would be futile at a mooting of teachers, but it might be nocessary to bring it before the Board. He thought that -the Government should be requested to consider the present scheme of staffing and salaries, and that delegates from the Teachers’ Institute, Education Boards, School Committee’s Associations, and tho Department meet together to evolve, some fresh scheme to present to the Minister. It was argued against such a proposal that tho teachers are not agreed amongst themselves. There was no doubt that many different suggestions had been brought forward, hut they had mum) in common, and it would not he dithoult to devise a change which won d prove satisfactory to all. No scheme would prove satisfactory unless it recognises and provides for —(a) Periodical increase, (b) scholastic attainments, (c) length of service, (d) some extraordinary service woiohy of recognition. Respecting the marks to be allotted for efficiency, it would bo necessary to appoint some central board of inspectors to allot the same, and if such a scheme was of no further benefit than assisting to -entraliso the inspectorate it would not have existed in vain. Such a

system is practised in every branch if tho Civil Service, and there nas 10 reason why it should not answer in tiie teaching profession. In conclusion Mr. Darton expressed iiis pleasure in meeting the teachers, md that he was at all times only too ileased to b'ringjiefore the board any natter affecting the welfare of tiie eacliors or the progress of our ■schools. Mr. J. Marshall, of Matawliero, .hen explained to the institute the ■.cheme lie had evolved, and exemplified it by the following table:

Maximum salary —Males... £soo Females £350 Minimum £ll0 —77 25 p.c. each for Certificate. Efficiency. Service. Class of School. Matric., 5 p.c....Mark 5, 5 p.c.... 2 years, 2 p.c.... —IOO, 5 p.c. D & E, 10 p.c...Mark 4, 10 p.c.... 5 years, 5 p.e.,..101— 200, 10 p.c. C 15 p.c....Mark 3, 10 p.c.. ..10 years, 10 p.c.... 201— 300, 15 p.c. ‘ D 20 p.c....Mark 2, 20 p.c.. ..15 years, 15 p.c....301—400, 20 p.c. A 25 p.c....Mark 1, 25 p.c.. ..20 years, 20 p.c.... 401— 500, 25 p.c. 25 years, 25 p.c.

There shall be no pupil teachers. Matriculation or Junior Civil Service shall bo the entrance test. There shall be two years spent at Training College, when the lectures may be attended at a University College without payment of fees. The mark for teaching efficiency shall bo the average mark of three independent inspectors. Competition shall be open to all, except that a teacher with mark o may not apply for a school over 100; mark 4, 200; mark 3, 300; mark 2, 400; mark 1, any school.. A committee consisting of Messrs. Marshall, Woodward, Rowley, Kinder, and Cole was appointed to go carefully into the scheme, so that after careful revisal it might be presented to tlio N.Z. Institute.