TEACHERS' SALARIES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 61, 28 October 1907, Page 2

TEACHERS' SALARIES.

A SUGGESTED SCHEME. Per l'ress Association. Dunedin, Last N.ight. At a meeting of * the management committee of tile Otago Educational Institute yesterday, a scheme for the payment, classification, and promotion of primary school teachers was adopted for transmission to the New Zealand Educational Institute for consideration at the annual meeting at Auckland in January. The scheme provides—(l) That the main portion of a teacher's salary should depend on his classification in regard to (a) teaching ability, (b) literary attainments, (c) length of service; also tliat the salary should /begin at a fixed minimum within each class; (2) That the above salaries should be supplemented by increment in accordance with tho average roll of the grade of the school. The scheme provides that teachers in Al, 81, and CI class, of whom there are 317 in the colony, Bhould get a minimum of £175, and a maximum of £185; A2, 82, C2, and D 1 (589 teachers) £l6O to .£170; A3, 83, C 3, D2, and El (778) £145 to £155; A 4, 84, C 4, D 3, and E2 (094) ,£l3O to .£140; A 5, 85, C 5, D 4, and E3 ( 320), £lls to £125; D 5, E4, and E5 (06) ,£IOO to £llO. The scheme also provides:—

(1) Grade of school to be fixed for two years; (2) If at the /end of that time the grade has fallen, tho teacher's salary is not to be reduced until 'he has declined an offer of transfer to a position involving no loss of emolument; (■j) The Department to pay tho expenses of such teacher's transfer; (4) No teacher's present salary to be reduced if, under this scheme, it is less .(than that received at present. It is claimed that the adoption of the scheme would abolish payment on the average attendance, the salary being based mainly on the "class of teacher," and that it would not necessitate the setting up of a new administrative body or involve any reorganisation of the present machinery. The scheme could be used as a basis for colonial promotion, and would increase the majority of present salaries.