SCHOOL TEACHERS’ SALARIES

Hokitika Guardian, 10 June 1929, Page 7

SCHOOL TEACHERS’ SALARIES

PROPOSED NEW SCALE PAYMENT ACCORDING TO EFFICIENCY. The teachers of New Zealand at present have tie.ore i/iiuiii a new settle ol .itinines, suggested by the Education .jenarlineiii ua ti substitute lor the existing scale. It is Ho secret Chat tile Leaeliors litive been dissatisfied ivitli uiie present seme lor a very consideiabie lime, and Lilt.* New Zealane aal.icalr-.niil institute has lost no opportunity ol inipri»sS>n<j| upon the Do..artuient tlie desirald.ity ol' a change. As far as has been possible the Department lias based its new scheme on the principal ol payment according to efficiency, although it is understood care lias been exercised to ensure that the adoption ol' the scheme will not materially increase the Education bill. Under the new ijcheme it is proposed to divide assistant teachers into lour classes —fourth (lair), third (very fair), second (good), first (very good to excV flout). Fourth class teachers will coni me ice at a salary of £lßu for males and £l7O for females, and will have an opportunity of rising in their class to £255 and £220. In the third class the minimum salaries are £270 and £230, and the maximum £330 and £270. The minimum salaries in the second class will be £345 and £2BO. The first-class minimum salaries i nth©

minimum rates are £420 and £320, and the maximum rates £4BO and £370. with the addition of £2O and £3O for infant mistresses of"grade 4' and grade 5 schools. For sole teaches and head teachers there are five grades—(l) for schools of from 9 to 24 pupils; (2) for schools of from 25 to 80: (3) for schools of from 81 to 280; (4) for schools of from 281 to 480; (5) for schools of from 'Bl upwards. The salaries proposed arc as follows, those for female teachers being given in parentheses in each instance: (1), from £220 (£200) to £320 (£290); (2), £340 (£308), to £420 (£380); (3j £435 (£392), to £49.“ (£440); (4), £5lO £452, to £570 (£500) ; (5), £SB-5 (—), to £615 (—). MARRIAGE RESPONSIBILITIES. The salaries of male and female teachers have been differentiated, the married allowance or house allowance having been absorbed, though differently distributed. In the higher years of service where in general a man’s responsibilities have increased, the difference is more marked than in the earlier years.

It is proposed that every teacher securing a university degree or a higher certificate than sclass G. shall be entitled to a double increment in salary from the beginning of the year in which he was awarded the higher qualification. No teacher will be entitled automatically to an annual increment, but will require a recommendation from the inspectors. The quesLion of whether there should be right of appeal against the withholding ol an efficiency increment will be con sidered by the Department. Under the scheme it would be possible for an assistant teacher of good ability ti. reach the maximum salary, without leaving the school in which lie was first placed, but at the same time he would be liable to be transferred elsewhere as the Department considers that pow er to transfer teachers from one schoc' to another is an essential feature ol the cheme.

In the event of tlie new scale being adopted the Department points out, no teacher would receive a less rate of salary than he or she had been recei/ing no t.’ tlie time ol tlie adoption of the new scheme. On the other hand no teacher would he entitled to adance to the present maximum of hi* particular grade. In other words, no teacher would proceed to a salary in excess of the maximum allowed undci tno now scale. Teachers who would, according to the new scale, be receiving over-scale- salaries, won d not he reduced, but on tlie* other hand would have to mark time until tlie new scale overtook their salary as existing ni the time the change was made. By tliis means there would he a gradua transition from the old system to the new. 'Die transition from the old t< the new scale would involve a certain amount of additional expense as i would lie necessary to carry over a certain number of teachers at a higlici maximum salary than that provided lor in the new scale. TOWN AND COUNTRY. Tlie De’paiitnient states that the effect of the proposed scale on the strength of stalf in town and country schools respectively may perhaps causi some concern. Undoubtedly then would tend to he a movement of tin more experienced assistant teachers to wards town p sitions, hut such movemenu would he controlled, and il should not he difficult to secure nr effective distribution of the teaching luff,' it is stated. All assistant teach, or could, for example lie required in rotation to hold pisitions in the country for il definite period, but ns tlie ■ lumber of town p sitions last year was 2236 as compared with 1189 country -visitions, it is evident that a certain number of teachers ol long experience would have to he allowed to ream in in town posi ions. As. the country positions differ very greatly in Attractiveness it may he necessary to onlinue paying remote allowance lo ompopsate teachers for the disoom- ■' ir's they experience in very remote mrts of the country. This remote allowance would not, except in spec-

ial eases, be carried forward by the teacher into the town positions, lint there might be cases where, on account of special excellence of work done in remote districts, the teachers should lie rewarded hy being allowed until, at all events, such time as tbo scale overtook the total salary received in the ouutry position. The Department has made it plain that it has n:> desire to force the new scale upon the teachers, hut is merely anxious lo have an expression of opinion upon it. Lnles the scheme meets with enthusiastic soppoit, there is .ittle chance of its being adopted. TOO MANY TEACHERS. A REDUCTION URGED. <Hy Telegraph—Press Association). AUCKLAND. June 9. A reduction in tlie number of the indents being trained as teachers, i:id, if the finances permit., the creaion of more prats liv reducing the ize of classes were two remedies indicated hy the Hon. Air A tip ore to a dron’g deputation from the Education : nstitutc that asked him to do someciung for a large number of teachers vho are not in permanent employ ment.

Classes of 61 or 57 or less, the Minister said, were wrong, and meant a waste of money, because in such classes there could not he proper teaching, here was difficulty in finance, but the natter of overcrowded classes admitted of no argument. He believed hat there would have to be a rednoion in the number of students trained t the colleges. He would like to now whether the training college students were getting training, or übject matter for teaching. If they vere- getting subject matter for teach’ng instead of training, he did not 'lame the Principals. That was to sav. he Minister—and he accepted it. He promised to go fully into the matters he deputation had raised.