THE EDUCATION BILL

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2266, 11 August 1908, Page 2

THE EDUCATION BILL

APPROVED BY TEACHERS.

The Poverty Bay Teachers’ Institute spent some time on Saturday discussing the Education Act Amendment Bill now before'Parliament,' and the general expression of opinion was that the Act would greatly improve tho position of teachers. The following resolutions bearing upon the question wore carried: “That this Institute should thank the Minister for Education for having made an honest attempt t c improve the conditions under which teachers are working, and for his recognition of the following principles: (1) The need for more liberal staffing of our schools; (2) the necessity for the abolition of the pupil teacher system; (3) the need for better payment of the teachers in the smaller schools; (4) the advisability of annual hicrements.” Also, that the Institute urge the following amendments in the Bill: —(a) That schools should be graded not on average attendance but on average actual roll for tho different weeks throughout tho year, no pupil who has not put in an attendance for any week to be counted on the roll number for that week: (h) that tho .payment of teachers in the secondary departments of oiir district high schools i.s inadequate; the time of children who have passed Standard VI. is too valuable to be spent under inferior teachers. To obtain tho services of graduates of the experience and ability of teachers of the higher standard classes, tho Department must he prepared to pay them liberally as the highest assistants in the primary departments; (c) the head teachers should he paid as liberally for the work of supervision of the secondary department as under the Act of 1904. In a department of 176-120 in average attendance, .the work of supervision is obviously much greater than i.u a department of 1230; (d) that sub-grade Vl.a should read 121-150, so as to make tho staffing at the commencement of the Act at least as good as it is at prisent in this grade of school, which teachers find particularly understaffed at this tip^,