17

H.—2

respect the requirements of the programme for Class D appear to be lower than for Class E, it is assumed that the greater severity of a University examination will make compensation. Candidates who pass the University examination intermediate between the matriculation examination and that for the degree of B.A. will be deemed qualified, so far as attainments are concerned, for Class C, and graduates will be deemed so far qualified for Class B, or, if in first- or second-class honours, for Class A. Encouragement is thus offered to young teachers to connect themselves with the University. But the University examinations are not the only means of qualifying for the several classes. The regulation in which these standards are set forth is introduced by the words " Except as hereinafter provided;" and it is provided by the 14th regulation that " generally a certificate of any class may be granted to a candidate whose qualifications, not being precisely those prescribed for such class in Regulation 10, but being sufficiently attested, shall appear to the Minister to be of equal value with the qualifications so prescribed." No doubt such a regulation leaves a very large discretionary power to the Minister, but it would be simply impossible to frame standards explicitly applicable to every variety of proved attainment, and it was absolutely necessary to provide for cases which could not be defined beforehand. No doubt also the decisions which are arrived at under such a regulation will sometimes fail to give satisfaction to the candidates immediately interested in them, who are apt to prize highly their own distinctions, with which they are most familiar, and to think lightly of others of which they know less, and which are brought into comparison with them. Candidates are prone also to expect that much weight will attach to the opportunities which they can show that they have enjoyed, without sufficiently reflecting that only proved and measurable attainments can be taken into account, and that even superior attainments which have not been subjected to a sufficient test cannot be registered. It may be allowed that a teacher who has had considerable early advantages, arising from his family relationships, his social conditions, and the high character of his school or college, is likely to possess qualifications superior to those which are attested by the examinations he has passed; but, on the other hand, a man who has emerged out of the most unfavourable circumstances, and proved that at least he is able to stand the examination test, has proved also a certain strenuousness and force of character that ought not to be ignored in making a comparison. The examination test, though not all-sufficient, seems to be the only one practically .available; and, in estimating the value of the many and various qualifications to which it has been necessary to pay respect, the intention has been to put as liberal a construction upon the certificates of each candidate as was consistent with fairness to the general body of the teachers. " The class for which a certificate is granted being determined by examination, the division within the class shall depend—Eirst, on the number of years during which the teacher has been engaged in school-teaching, one mark being assigned for two years' service, two marks for five years, three marks for eight years, four marks for eleven years, and five marks for fourteen years and upwards ; and, second, on the judgment of the Inspector in whose district the teacher is at work, such judgment being expressed by marks numbering 2, 4, 6, 8, or 10, according to the Inspector's estimate of less or greater efficiency; and, the marks of both series being added, fourteen marks shall qualify for the first division, eleven marks for the second, eight marks for the third, five marks for the fourth, and three marks for the fifth. On the 30th day of June in each year, teachers who by length of service, or upon a more favourable judgment expressed by the Inspector before the 31st day of May, shall have become entitled to promotion to a higher division, shall receive such promotion " (Beg. 12). By this arrangement, the Inspector's judgment carries twice as much weight as is accorded to mere seniority. It may be objected that Inspectors are fallible, but it is difficult to see any better way of ascertaining a teacher's efficiency than by accepting the deliberate report of the Inspector. And while it is in the power of an Inspector to procure by his own marks the promotion of a teacher whose work is satisfactory, the regulation gives him no power to degrade a teacher to a lower division, 3*— H. 2.