TEACHERS' PROTEST.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXV, Issue 9178, 29 June 1915, Page 2

TEACHERS' PROTEST.

VIEWS OF THE CHAJRMAN OF

THE BOARD

CHRLSTCHURCTI, June 29

Mr George Rennie,'chairman of the North Canterbury Education Board, was asked by a reporter yesterday if ho would make a statement regarding the dissatisfaction expressed on Friday aiight lit; a meeting of the North Canterbury Assistant - Masters' 1 Association with a recent appointment of a head teacher to a country school. The Association, it will be recalled, took exception to the selection of a comparatn re i stranger in the country, and contended that if this policy were continued no promotion would be possible for local te;ichers.

Mr Rennie said that the attitude takon up by some of the nssistant (masters was a matter for regret. The | position to which reference was made at the meeting was, he understood, one in the country carrying a salary of £200 per annum. Now. within the last two months three similar positions— Carlton. Horsley Downs, and Waiari, Bnlary £200 to £350 plus house, or rent j allowance —had been advertised by the i Board, and had elicited no response ! from the assistant masters who now represented themselves as being ' unjustly treated. It could not, he asserted, be truthfully said that the assistant" masters, who were now evidently disappointed in not being selected for the position referred to at the meeting, had not had opportunities lof promotion. If they had availed ! themselves of the three openings above- | mentioned, opportunities for promotion for younger teachers receiving lower salaries would have resulted.'" As to [ the .statement that a few of the Board's ! assistant masters are poorly paid, Mr i Ronnie pointed out that in only one ! cn.se was a junior assistant, master cmi ployed in any of the Board's town i schools receiving ■ a ■ salary, less than £J4O per annum. Furthermore, the fact that some wore receiving small Baliirioß could not be due to their inability to secure positions carrying higher remuneration, as they did not apply for such positions when vacant.; As a- matter of fact, the young assistant, master preferred'to"remain nt a town school at, what-'miglit be regarded as a low salary and until he received his certificate, rather than take a position in a country school.