TEACHERS SALARIES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXIII, Issue 220, 26 September 1901, Page 2

TEACHERS SALARIES.

ACTION BY THE EDUCATION BOAHD. At the Education Board on Wednesday Mr. Allsworth brought forward a motion, of which he had given notice, to refer the report of the Teachers Salaries Commission to the Finance Committee fot.them to re|»r,li jbh'ereoof Before speaking to the motion he asked leave to alter the terms of referenc, by substituting a special committee for the finance committee in order to have the advantage of Mr. Mackay's experience in dealing with the matter. Mr. Mackay regretted that he could ■not devote the time- required for mastering the detii's of the report and expressed bis conviction that as the Bond had every c<nfilence in , the Finance Commit' ea and as Mr. AUbworth bad already probed the Commission's report moet thoroughly and was convert,mt with all i<s features and beariugH th) motion should s and as on the order piper. This course i was adopted. . - Mr. Allsworth sai l that the Government had p ai'.ically alped the " A " scale arid it t href ore appeared to. be the duty of the Bard to nscertaiu its position thereunder, fo that if it was found the scale was objectionable it should be opposed and reasons given for such objections as might be formula ted. It was with that view his motion wai framed. He reviewed the proposals with regard to the pay of male and female teachers, and showed that a considerable step had been taken towards equalising the pay of male and female teachers, ts in all schools of from 30 to 40 the salaries only varied from£l to £lO, while in schools under 30 they were equal. Anothe- point was that teachers, certificates were not taken into account in the scale. This was very important as it left the Board with greater freedom than heretofore in tha direction of insisting that certain certificates should be held for certain appointments. Then it would be noticed that house allowances were abolished in cases of schools where the attendance was under 20, and this he considered was a step in the wrong direction as it militated against the smaller schools. Under that regulation at 488 of this class of schools in the colony the teachers would be houseless. It was true that the salaries of these teachers were increased by the scale, but that did noli meet the case. As soon, however, as the numbers reached one over 20 a liberal house allowance was provided. Jn fact the jump was too great, and it would be better he consider n d to provide a reasonable house allowance lor all teachers. Another point was -that sewing teachers frere not to be provided by the Board, but by h&kd teachers, if males, at their own cost, and this was objactionable.. Another feature was the reduction of pupil teachers, who would disappear from all schools when the attendance was less than 90 all sohools between 40 and 90 being staffed by certificated teachers.! This ahange was very important, the scSIS presiding Jfor.a..tQM)Mc fop every increase of 30 pupils in schools from 90 to 150, wlifie from 150 to 250 there was an assistant for every 50 and a pupil teacher for each 30 of an increase alternately. From 330 upwards an assistant and a pupil teacher were givep for each 60 and 30 increase alternately. No allowance was given to head teachers for training pupil teachers and all teachers were required to assist in this training work. The proposals were goodas a whole, but one drawback was that owing to the number of pupil teachers being reduced, obildren in small country schools would be debarred from going in for teaching. Another bar was the small salary oflered, viz., £2O p«r annum, as against £25 at present. As ■the teaohers progressed the saliry became more liberal. But he maintained tbat the liberality should be shown from the start, as every child should have a chance to take up teaching. He then reviewed the salaries proposed to be paid to teachers By the proposal to give a lump sum for the forking expenses of the Boird, unless the Board could reduca its expenses, or obtain some alteration, it would lose, under Scale B, £56 per 'annum j or under Scale A, £l7O. Scale A was being suggested as the one to be adopted, but he believed the other would eventually prevail. Mr. Allsworth then put in a list of salaries which would be payable to teachers in Taranaki under the proposed re.v j scale, pointing out the differences bstween that and the Board's present ecale. He also laid on the table a list of amounts of capitation which would accrue, under the proposed new scale, to schools in the district. The subject I wa& one which the committee should go into thoroughly. The report of the Commission as a whole was most satisfactory, and really aimed at improving educational matters in New Zealand.

Mr. Faull, in seconding, said he was surprised to find that teachers on going • o the small schools would be penalised in some cases.

Mr. Hignefct said the Board kad not a sufficient revenue at present, and he was sorry to see that under whichever reale was.adop'ed the Taranalti Boird would have still less.

Mr. Wade supported thfj motionl which was carried.