Manawatu Herald TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 1922. TEACHERS AND THE GRADE LIST.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 2395, 21 February 1922, Page 2

Manawatu Herald TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 1922. TEACHERS AND THE GRADE LIST.

EDUCATION Boards and School Committees now have very little say in the appointment of school teachers to our primary schools. “Wirepulling” —to a very large extent — has given place to grade list recommendation. Some day even the grade list may he a true indication of merit. Anyhow, the present method of appointment is preferable to the old-time differences among commilleemen when a teachers qualifications were ofllunes subordinated to sectarian or political prejudices. Even under present conditions inspectors’ recommendations may not always he in the best interests of a sc! I’s welfare, hut they cannot go back on a grade list they have standardised. Board and committees must be guided by the recommendations of inspectors, wlm as experts are in (dose touch with t lie (pull idea lions of teachers. An improvement could be etteeted by making the itinerary of the'inspectors national, instead of local. This would remove any grounds of complaint arising from personal or temperamental prejudice. A teacher’s merit to a higher grade in the profession should not be unduly prejudiced by lack of a definite length of service.