TEACHERS' SALARIES COMMISSION REPORT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXIII, Issue 172, 2 August 1901, Page 3

TEACHERS' SALARIES COMMISSION REPORT.

FKK PRESS ASSOCIATION. WrauHoro*, August 1. Ths teacher*' Salaries Commission report was laid on the table of both Houses this afternoon. With regard to the proposed scales ef staffs and salaries the Commission has prepared two schemes, described as scale one and scale two, the difference between them being that in the second there is an intra* &e in the amount proposed as silarira in schools with an average attendance of more than twenty. The Commifsion strongly recommends the adoption cf clause two, which would necessitate raising the capitation to £4 2* 6d. By tbis means the allowance to Boards could be increased to a capitation of 12«, with an addition of £250 to each district with an average attendance not exceeding 8006. It was agreed by the Commission that women in many instances do not receive payment commensurate with the work they perform. Members of the Commission, though divided on the question of granting •qual pay to men and women, unite in thinking th&t, under existing circumstances, the principle cannot be fully applied. It has, however, been adopted as far as relates to all whools with an average attendance net exceeding 30, and above this number the salaries of women teachers have been raised to approximate more closely to those paid to male teachers in similar positions. The aim has been to provide salaries likely to attract teachers of increased capacity and training. A new feature is now presented by the introduction into rtaff of an assistant teacher. While either of the two tcales will benefit a Urge majority e! teachers and ■ehools, more particularly in smaller districts, it ha* been found impossible, especially under »cale 1, to avoid r?ducing a few salaries; but it is recommended that reductions shall not take effect until the tlose ef two years, unless in the meantime there is a change of teacher. While not prepared to adopt a general system of deduc'ions for deficiencies on certificates, the Commission rrcommends that Salaries of uncertificated i»ead teachers sad assistants be reduced 10 per cent,, provided such salaries do not in consequence fall below -£BO a year. The Commissioners state they are in accord with a number of witnesses who consider that the least satisfactory part of primary education in New Zealand is the pup'l teacher system. The scales submitted show a reduction in the number of pupil > teachers from 962 to 681, which reduction can be effected gradually as opportunity eccurs. The payment proposed is equal to the highest now allowed by any board, and tbe duty of giving instruction to pupil teachers has been allotted to head teachers and assistants without special remuneration. They think further that the qualifications required for entrance should be greater than a men* pa's in the highest standard of the primary course; that, if possible, the period of apprenticeship should be shortened, and that a uniform system of examination should be instituted. Finally, tbe Commission reports:—(l) That Bcali No. 1 comes within a £4 capitation ; (2). That No. 2, estimated on a £4 2s 6d capitation, fu'fils conditions 'hat will, in their opinion, greatly benefit primary education, therefore they strongly recommend its adoption ; (3) That the ws'e shall come into operation on the let day of January, 1902 ; (4) That two years be allowed for the adjustment of salaries in certain cases; (5) That tbe mod fioation in tbe system of certificates of teachers be adopted; (6) That the pupil teacher system be amended; (7) That training schools for teachers be estab'ished, and that, pending the introduction of a general scheme, existing institutions receive special consideration.