GRADING OF TEACHERS.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 July 1918, Page 3

GRADING OF TEACHERS.

ALLEGED DEPARTMENTAL INTER- ' FERENOE. \ QUESITOX OF APPEALS. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Auckland, July 20. < Comidcrable dissatisfaction exists among the teachers in Croups 3 and 4 under the grading regulations. In the Auckland district, the grading officers under the present system are the inspectors, who are considered to be the most experienced men in this work in the Dominion. Jt is alleged that after tha inspectors have allotted their marks \ there has been interference on the part | of the Assistant Director of Education. < who. it is stated, lias ordered a Tedue- • tion in the marks. The result is that j teachers are placed in a lower grade than | would otherwise be the ease. , A representative deputation of (each- ] crs waited on the Minister cf Education , in reference to this matter la=t evening. ■ jit was alleged, among other tliinsrs, that . J the teachers in the two groups, who . : strenuously opposed the present system of grading, had been the subject of vie- r tirmsationln the direction indicated. The Minister promised to look into | th» matter on lis return to Wellington. The question of the exemption of school teachers from service was n>cn- „ lioned by a deputation of assistant ' teachers which waited upon Mr. ITanan < last evening. He said he had been asked . to bring about 'certain reforms, but he i would be rendered powerless if the < shnr'.agv of efficient teachers continued i and became even more acute. Close association with the teachers satisfied Mm that there was not a single teacher who was a shirker. He recognised that the first duty was to win the war, but ' he considered there were some men in the eonntrv who could be better spared , than teachers of national schools. He 'tad no power to appeal for teachers. as he was not their employer, and. under the Act. only employers could appeal ' Some beards were appealing, but others . were not lie had recently discussed the question with the chairman of the Efficiency P.oard. who agreed with him that, the time had arrived when they should call a halt in the interests o! ; education. Accordingly, he intended to ask Mr. Massev and Sir Joseph Ward. : on their return fV \~ew Zealand to give the Director of Education the power of lodging appeals.