PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHERS

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2091, 28 May 1907, Page 4

PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHERS

THEIR APPOINTMENT AND PROMOTION.

DISCUSSION BY THE TEACHERS INSTITUTE.

ITor some time past the question of a definite and systematic scheme of promotion has been agitating tlie minds of public school teachers in this colony. The general dissatisfaction with which the working of the present system is viewed found expression at a special meeting of the Wellington District Institute of Teachors on May 17th, when members were asked to consider tlio report of tho Promotion Committee, which was submitted to the annual conference of Institute delegates last January, and referred back to the district institutes for discussion.

Tho Promotion Committoo was appointed in 1906 to: —(1) Collect- information regarding schemes of promotion, (2) consider suggested schemes, and (3) report generally upon tho whole question. Tho conference of that year also resolved: —“That no scheme of appointment or promotion of teachers can commend itself to the teachers of tlie colony’ that permits local or personal influence to override, in the making of appointments, the claims of (1) efficiency, (2) length of service, and (3) literary or other special attainments,” —a motion which gives a direct indication as to tlie main source of discontent.

Tho Promotion Committee has embodied the result of its labors in two suggested schemes, wherein a cortain method of grading, based on a mathematical approximation of the various aspects of a teacher’s work, is laid down. Scheme 1 provides for tlie division of the ’colony into six educational districts, each administered, for the purposes of appointment, transfer, or promotion, by a board of classifiers consisting of tlie inspectors of tlio district. Tlie operations of this scheme would not, it is claimed, interfere with or modify the status of local controlling bodies. Tlie extract quoted herewith shows the method of appointment: ‘When a vacancy occurs tlie Education Board shall, in the manner hereinafter prescribed, select from tlie promotion list corresponding to the vacant position a name, or names, to be forwarded to tlie District School Committee for tlieir final selection of a teacher. Provided always that tlie names in a supe-

rior group must be exhausted before any name he selected from an inferior group; also that in general at least 2 Ctyvo)\ names shall be selected, but should only

one name remain in a superior group that name must be submitted alone.

As applicants receive promotion thoir names shall be struck off the list, A teacher whose name lias been placed on the promotion list may at any time withdraw his candidature' for any particular vacancy.” Schenio 11. involves, from its colonial character, tlio centralisation of the inspectorate. Tlio method if grading is practically, the same as in Schenio I; and it is recommended that salaries shall bo computed, not upon average attendance, but upon tlio class of position, tlio appointee to begin at . the minimum salary, attaining tlio maximum by annual increment. Under a colonial system of promotion, “it would bo necessary,” says the committeo:

1. For tlio colony to bo divided into, say, four education districts, each under a chief inspector, who would ho responsible for supplying the hoard of

classifiers- with full information as to (1) tlio efficiency and per-

sonality; (2) the educational at-

tainments (literary and otherwise) ; and (3) the length of ser-

vico of each applicant (from liis district) for promotion. 11. or a board of classifiers to be set uji to consist of — (a) the Inspector-General; (b) An inspector elected by the inspectors of tlio colony; and (c) A teacher in the highest class, elected by the Educational Institute,

Introducing the subject, the president remarked that as the question had not been previously before tile Wellington District Institute, it might be as well to invite a general discussion upon the whole aspect of appointments and promotion before definitely committing themselves to an expression of opinion regarding the merits of any particular scheme. He would move: —“That this institute is of opinion that the present method of appointment and promotion of teachers is eminently unsat_ isfaetory.” This was seconded, and evoked an interesting discussion, which elicited the following" points of dissatisfaction :

(1) That certain Education Boards are practically close corporations, it being an exceedingly difficult and frequently impossible matter for' a deserving teaeher from another district, or “outsider,” to enter their services, and so obtain that promotion which his own district, from its smaller and more scattered nature, was unable to offer.

(2) That the present system of payment oh average attendance is responsible for a feeling of unrest among teachers in whoso districts,

from the character of tlio local industry’, tho.population fluctuates, to tho corresponding fluctuation jf their salaries.

(3) That tho wider powers of selection conferred upon School Committees by roeont legislation paves tho way for tho exorcise olf local influence in tho obtaining of appointments.

Mr. Erskino’s motion was carried unanimously. -Mr. Foster then moved: —“That tlio Wellington District Institute does not approvo of tho establishment of a colonial system of promotion, inasmuch as such a system can only bo sot up by tho 'establishment of a central board of control for tho colony, and tho disestablishment of thoso local controlling educational bodies which are of vital importance m a national system of education.’' Mr. Goorgo Macmorran seconded.

Tho mover contended that both submitted by' the- 'Promotion Committoo involved the principle ol centralisation, to which lie was vory strongly opposed. Ho instanced tho Australian elasification scheme as ail example of centralisation, and its clogging oll'oct upon the progress •'•£ good men'.’ Anothor spoakcr, referring to the Now Zoaland Post and Telegraph Department system as boing somewhat similar in design to the proposed teachers’ scheme, humorously’ roforred to the man who sat up late at night studying tho classification list and figuring out tho probable longevity of each man ahead of him. Mr Caughley, in defence of scheme 1, submitted that there could bo no question of centralisation wlierc tlie colony was dividod up and conti oiled by district bodies. It was finally decided, Mr. Foster having withdrawn his motion, that further consideration of tlie question bo deforred until 7tli June, when a special meeting will bo convened.

One of the Otago branches ol the Farmers’ Union passed the following resolution :—“That the Government be asked to assist' experienced and competent ploughmen, farm laboiers, and domestic servants (now that there is a surplus of good rural labor rn England) by extending tlie system of assisted passages on certificates of competency’ being produced, in lieu of tlio prescribed amount of capital possessed.”

Mr. Justice Cooper, in tho Supremo Court, Wellington, stated the court practice in regard to medical certificates presented by jurors seeking exemption on account of illness. His Honor said that doctors’ ‘certificates had no judicial standing. If t(io doctor’s signature on a certificate was known to tlie officers of the court, or if it was vouched, it was accepted, but it was. not a judicial document, as ono Wellington doctor had recently seemed to consider.