THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. FRIDAY, AUGUST 11, 1911. PROMOTION OF TEACHERS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10311, 11 August 1911, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. FRIDAY, AUGUST 11, 1911. PROMOTION OF TEACHERS.

In answer to a question in. the House of Representatives, the Hon. G\ Ib-vvMis, Minister for Education, stated, in. effect, that he was not to consider a Dominion Boheime for the promotion of teachers. Mr FowJds rightly stated that ssuch. a, scheme .would involve either the application of a rigid (rule to Education Boards and School'.; Committees, or the isetting up of a,central 'authority. The powers of Boards in the matter of appointmenltis are already restricted to such an extent that the adoption of an effective classification scheme is almost impassible. The centralization of the education system has been advocated on more than one occasion, and if #his .were ibrought about, a general isy&tem of promotion of teachers anight 'be possible. It is exceedingly improbable, however, that the people would surrender the control of educational affairs wiu'oh tliey at present possess, iand place it in the handsi of a 'Department which is at all timesi s/uisceptible to political influemce. There can 1 he little doubt that the system of local control, if administered in an intelligent manner, 'will make for the greatest efficiency in the cause of education. "What the Minister should kave the backbone to decide, is that tihe appointment of transfer iof teachers shall vest entirely in, the Education Boards of the Dominion'. At one period in. .the history of ■■New Zealand this was iso. A .weak-kneed Minister, however, yielded to the pressure of * certain (number of people possessing votets, with the result ithat School Committees were given a voice in the appointment of teachers. The result has been the

disorganisation of the service and the discouragement of teachers generally. It would .be a simple matter for the Education. Boards, with J the assistance of their expert officials, to devise a satisfactory scheme for promotion.; were it not that the Legislature, in its wisdom, has conferred powers upon School Committees in the .matter of appointments which are frequently used in opposition to .the expressed wishes of the Board. To give .an illustration. The Wellington Education Board irequired a teacher for an important position in the city. Applications were invited for the post, 'and a score or more iwere received. The i Board, aetimg .upon the advice of its Inspectors, strongly recommended the appointment of a teacher from an outside district, who was said to be head and shoulders above the rest. To comply with the .spirit of the Act, the Board sent four names on to the Committee, and the latter, instead of choosing the teacher who was first on the list, and who was strongly (recommended, actually selected the teacher wlio was fourth on the Jiiist. This is not ,by any means a .solitary instance. Can it be ' expected, in .such circumstances, that a proper isy.stem of classification can be .brought about? The difficulty iwould be overcome if the Minister were to place the power of transfer and appointment entirely in the .hands of the Boards-. The Committees themselves, are entrusted with the responsibility of electing the Boards, and they .should be ready to- concede that any limitation; of the powers of their representatives which may result in a weakening of the service as a whole should be removed..