THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. THURSDAY, AUGUST 15, 1912. AN EDUCATIONAL RUMPUS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10694, 15 August 1912, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. THURSDAY, AUGUST 15, 1912. AN EDUCATIONAL RUMPUS.

The Wellington branch of the X. Z. Educational Institute has become quite agitated of late over appointments, made by the Wellington Education Board. ft appears that certain prominent members of the Institute, have aspired for positions;, and, apparently , because it hey have been unsuccessful, they have criticised the methods of the Board. They have gone further, and demanded that the Board should araiounce gome definite policy of promotion. Tho Dunedin Star puts the position in a nutshell wlieii it savy that the .Board, in their wisdom, have thought proper .to pas? our i.ho city applicants, ;r-! 'he city staffs, .sympatiusing with on e another, are naturally disappointed and indignant. It seems that the V. c Ilington Board have certain rules, unspecified but well known, that may or may not be considered a diiinito policy. One of these rules is that teachcw who want promotion beyond th e rank of assistants must have had country experience. Educational certificates and university degrees can never take the place of actual experience and practical work. A young teacher may go through, the Training College, secure a good certificate, and vet, for want of organising ability, prove n complete failure in charge of s moderate-sized school. Inspectors, who have to gauge teachers, as well as examine pupils, are guided largely by results in distinguishing tho proficient and siteaspful from the nonprogressive. ilie mere, ability to pass an examination is a poor qualification for any teacher. The genuine qualification is demonstrated by -lie actual work done in the school under the teacher's control and direction. Would any scheme of classification be useful? Would a barrier placed in the way of merit and aptitude help our schools? Who would suggest to a head master that he must take seniority into consideration in advancing pupils from one standard to another? Are not teachers very

UL'.li ]!kSchool ohikll'Oi.. ? 0110 IS fit to cipifjii'c uiifi t-'OiViinan' 1 ; another has to asss?.;, being mitui-ally nr. for le.xlertinp. In tno regulaticr. of promotions and in tilling appointments the bane of classification i& seniority. Venerable stumblirg-b'iock.s may ba respected, but they cannot be allowed to stand in the way of merit. In t!i:> teaching profession .especially • ilio gate should always bo kept wide open. Every teacher shout dbe allowed to give procf of his or he inability. Every board, in the flection ot applicants for v;w aiicy cr promotion, should be guided chiefly by the opinions of tiieir inspectors, who re responsible to the school committees and the parent*. Any .reduction of this responsibility mus* impair the efficiency of our Education system.