TARANAKI EDUCATION BOARD.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXIII, Issue 233, 14 October 1901, Page 2

TARANAKI EDUCATION BOARD.

REPORT OF FINANCE COMMITTEE ON . PROPOSED STAFFING AND COLO- { NIAL SCALE OF TEACHERS' SAL- T ARIES, ETC. J " ' e At the meeting of the Education Board on { October 9th, the following report of the , Finance Committee on the report of the ( Commission on staffs of schools and salaries ■■ of public school teachers, was read: — . To the chairman of the Taranaki Edttca- ■ tion Board.—Sir, —We have to point outthat : the first serious objection to the above pro- \ posals is that whilst the average expenditure , of the Board for the years 1898-99-1900 1 amounted to £2290, the allowances under the i proposed Scale 1, viz: £250 plus capitation - at lis 3d amount to £2120 and under Scale , 2, viz : £250 plus capitation at 12s to £2244, , thus placing the Board in a worse position . financially whichever scale he adopted, the , loss under Scale 1 amounting to £l7O, and j under Scale 2to £46 per annum. It maybe , observed that in schools of the second grade, with an average attendance varying from 20 , to 30, the salaries are the same for teachers • of both sexes; In the third grade of schools, ■ consisting of those with an average attend- : anpe of over 3Q.and not over 40 a differential scale begins. A prominent feature is presented by the introduction into the staff of an assistant teacher, and as soon as the average attendance exceeds 40, an assistant mistress is to be appointed at a salary commencing at £BO per annum. The number of schools with an average attendance of over 48 and under 90 is 20. The staff is increased at 90 by the addition of a pupil-teacher, and at 120 by a second pupil teacher, which means that under the new system the Board will employ about 17 pupil-teachers, as compared with'about 35 at the present time. With regard to the question of house allowance, the Commission recommends that where no residence is provided, house allowance be paid from the building fund on the following scale average attendance, £2O; over 50 and not over 150 in average attendance, £3O; over 150 and not over 250 in average attendance, £35; over 250 and not over 420 in average attendance, £4O; over 420 in average attendance, £SO. This will aifect the position of the Board as follows:—Eight teachers who now receive £l2 a year will not get any house allowance; 14 who now receive £l2 a year will receive £2O per annum, and one who recui ves £ 2 will receive £3O; or in other words: that the Board will have to pay a sum of £3lO instead of £276 per annum as at present. There will thus be a deficiency of £34, and it should also be pointed out that under the new regulation the house allowance is to be paid from the building fund, and not from the capitation jirant, ' which will considerably reduce the amount at the disposal of the Board for building schools, etc. It is well understood that the . amount of the annual grant for building pur- - poses has hitherto been inadequate to meet . the demands of the district, and under the ; new proposal, the Board will be in. a worse . position than under the old section, unless the total amount of the annual building grant is very considerably increased. We now come to the question of teachers' .' certificates, and it will be noted that it is proposed that the salaries of uncertificated ■ head teachers and assistants be reduced 10 per cent, provided that such salaries do not in consequence fall below £BO per annum. 1 As regards the teaching staff under the : proposed scheme, only three classes are re- • cognised, namely, head or sole teachers, ' assistants, and pupil teachers. The present • regulations affecting sewing mistresses will he abolished, but it is assumed by the Commission that the increase in salaries will - attract into the smaller schools teachers • capable of providing for instruction in sewing ' and at the same time supplying a higher ' standard of general training. This altera- ' tion is likely to affect at least eleven sewing ' teachers under the Board, whose services 1 would probably have to lie dispensed with. ' For the purpose of comparison, we desire to call attention to the fact that the Board F has allowed in schools with an attendance > of above 70 to 100, a first assistant or two 1 pupil teachers ; abovo 100 to 13U, one as- • distant and- one pupil teacher; above 130 to ■ 170, one assistant and two pupil teachers; i above 170 to 220, two assistants and two , pupil teachers ; above 220 to 260, two assist--3 ants and three pupil teachers ; above 261 to , 310, three assistants and three pupil teachi ers ; above 310 to 350, three assistants and i four pupil teachers ; above 350 to 390, four 1 assistants and four pupil teachers; above • 430 to 480, five assistants and five pupil 1 teachers ; above 480 to 520, five assistants and six pupil teachers ; above 520 to 570, I six assistants and six pupil teachers ; above , 570 to 610, six assistants and seven pupil s teachers;. this being an increase of 30 a ] pupil teacher, and increase of 40 a female assistant, and increase of 50 a male assistant. Under the new scale it is provided that in schools with an attendance of over 40 to 90, one assistant should be appointed ; 90 to 12 \ one assistant and one pupil tea- ' cher ; 120 to 150, one assistant and two ) pupil teachers ; 150 to 200, two assistants and two pupil teachers ; 200 to 250, three

' assistants and two pupil teachers ; 250 to \ 280, three assistants and three pupil teachers ; 280 to 330, four assistants and three 1 pupil teachers ; 330 to 390, five assistants ' and three pupil teachers ; 390 to 420, five '■ assistants and four pupil teachers; 420 to 480, six assistants and four pupil teachers ; 480 to 510, six assistants and five pupil teachers ; 510 to 570, seven assistants and five pupil teachers; 570 to QQO; seven assistants ' and six pupil teaphers; 600 to 860, eight assistants and six pupil teachers, With referenoe to the training of pupil teachers, wo desire to point out that under the existing regulations the. payments to head maste'rs.are at the rate of £lO for the, first, and £5 for,every additional pupil tea-' cher who has been taught and instructed by him as required by regulation 16 and who has satisfactorily passed the annual examination ; or in case of failure, the Board may, provided that the Inspector's report on the instruction given to the pupil toaober be favourable, pay the teaoher for such insf ruction one half of the amount given for a" successfill examination. Under the new system this is done away with, and the teacher has no direct interest or incentive.

With respect to the establishment of training schools, we are of opinion that such, institutions would' be a valuable adjunct to the educational system, but' vy,}thfurthor information, givjng' details showing where these schools would be estahlishad and maintained, we are unable to submit any definite proposal, We have now to submit to the Board the following recommendations: —(1) With regard to the decreased revenue of the Board: This is a very serious matter, and it is likely to considerably impede progress, afld, w|U prevent the Board from carrying out any schemes for the educational welfare of the district. We are of opinion that the Board should strongly protest against the proposed decrease, and with a view to ecqnqirrising as, much as possible, we suggest th,at instead of fortnightly meetings, the Board should arrange to meet only qnce a month, and that an Executive Coramittae should bo appointed to deal with financial and other special matters. We would further suggest that the question of the whole expenditure of the Board should be referred to a committee to consider, and report what reductions, if any, may be made without impairing efficiency. (2) Wc are of opinion that £2O a year is too little to induce male pupil teachers to enter the service. Upon this point we are inclined to agree with the remarks of the Otago Education Board as follows ;-*<' Regarding the employment Qf. men and womon teaohers under the scale the Board viows with alarm tho curtailment of inducements to boys and men to enter into and continue in the service, at a time when there is a marked and serious falling off in the number of male teachers, who, as a rule, make the service a life employment, and an abundance of female teachers, the majority of whom do not continue in the service, and the pursuance of the, policy recommended by the Commission must in- ' evitably'lead to the teaohing profession being ultimately handed over' to women." I The proportion of .male pupil teachers to female pupil teachers under the Taranaki Education Board is 1 to 6. (3) We think ' that, the JJoard should strongly protest against the proposed reduction in the salary i of second assistant masters, We are further j of Opinion that any change should! be in the j direction of equalising' the salaries in the ease of senior, assistarits, tliu,s^ giving head- ' masters a freer' hand in'the organisation of their staffs. Th,e Board is, awaja this i proppsai is, already havmg. a'prejudicial ( effect it) this district. (4) tfe have already poiqteil out- that th,e new'pr-oppsaj -will result in an annua l increflsecj sJ(B e T\'ii t W* tfl tlle ' Board of £i}4 t and WP sflhn# (bat a protest ' should be entered, a§ain§t thp hquse allow- i anoe being taken out of the annual hujlding grant, which is already inadenuatp, unless the building grant is proportionately in- ! oreased, (8) Wo arc divided in opinion on ,' this question, Mr. Allsworth agreeing with j the recommendation of the Commission, , whilst Messrs. McAUum, and Higriett are in favour of, supporting the recommendation of ' the Otago Education Board, that" the Board '

emphatically protests against the rcoom- ; ruendalion of tlie Commission that only two i grades of certificates of competency be , issued by the Department, and against the , proposed non-recognition of university certificates. The Board views this last recommendation as being a retrograde step, and ' unworthy of a Royal Commission on teachers' salaries, and the Board is of opinion that if there is to be any reduction in the number of classes of certificates, such reduction should begin at the lowest." (6) We are of opinion that in the interests of settlers in the outlying districts a mimimum salary should be adopted for the colony, instead o£ the teachers' salary depending on the attendance which makes the remuneration uncertain. There are 490 schools in this class and 6314 children, and we think, with the Otago Education Board, that in view of the large expenditure for high schools and technical education at the centres of population, little or nothing of which expenditure reaches settlers in the outlying districts, the suggested treatment is calculated to arrest education in country, districts. In conclusion we would suggest that any i resolution on this important subject should ' be passed without delay, and forwarded to the proper quarter, as the matter is of an urgent character. We have the honour to be etc.: — D. McAllum, E. G. Allswobth, B. A. Hignett. Mr. Maekay complimented the committee i most cordially on the exhaustive way in' which they had dealt with the matter and he considered that they deserved not only the thanks of the Board but of the public in general. He thoroughly agreed in protesting against any decrease in educational revenue, but he did not think it was intended that should happen. He considered that before this was allowed to take place the scale would be altered by Parliament before becoming law, and it would be well therefore to bring the matter before Parlia- j nient. He was much struck with the remarks in the report with respect to pupil teachers and it appeared to him as that class were destined to go under. He was in favour of normal schools or training colleges being instituted throughout the colony. Another matter, and one on which there seemed to be a difference of opinion, was that of the abolition of teachers' certificates. He agreed with the majority of the committee that the department should be urged to maintain and recognise the value of the various intellectual attainments of teachers as signified by certificates. He moved that the portion of the Finance Committee's report dealing with the new scale of salaries proposed by the Commission be received and adopted and the thanks of the Board tendered them. That a copy of this part of the report be forwarded to the Education Department and to the M's.H.R. representing the district. Thatth* discussion of the other points raised in the report be deferred till the next meeting of the Board. The motion was seconded by Mr. Wade, I who expressed an opinion that no normal j schools would supply the place of the present system of training pupil teachers. ■ ] Mr. Faull drew attention to the hardship the scheme imposed' on small country j schools. He strongly objected to the proposal for monthly meetings of the Board and i the appointment of a committee to do the 1 Board's work as he was averse to sitting at j the Board and merely swallowing commit- J tee's reports. | Mr. Allsworth explained his reasons for differing with the other members of the committee as to teachers certificates. . The | position he took up was that the Board could not afford to pay for ornamental letters attached to teacher's names. What was required was ability to teach. It was well known that the Board had frequently had teachers with high credentials who, in practice, were found not to possess as much ability for to teach successfully as those who held lower certificates. He instanced i the case of a teacher holding a University degree which was evidence of learning and ■ scholarship but did not necessarily irflply that the holder possessed that ability to i impart knowledge to others which was such 1 an essential feature in the qualifications of a teacher, Othor things being equal he was i in favpur of giving the preference to the ; holder of higher credentials. He reminded > the members that they had it in their power to regulate the necessary qualifications of i teachers for the various schools. He impressed on the Board the fact that so far : from not attaching value to the certificates, ; he was decidedly in favour of teachers holdi ing the highest certificate possible, but the :• Board could not afford to pay for the luxury, i Mr. Hignett, on the other hand, considered , that to abolish teachers' certificates would ! be to adopt a levelling, down course which would be degrading to the profession. He . took it that the aim of the Board should be ! to level up and encourage teachers to get the highest certificates. I Mr. Adlam was of opinion that in many cases the teachers who had the best ability for imparting information were no,t those, who held tlie highest certificates. ( The motion was then carried, I