GRADING OF TEACHERS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 66, Issue 255, 9 August 1946, Page 2

GRADING OF TEACHERS

EFFECT OF MILITARY SERVICE SPECIAL ADJUSTMENT BOARD (P.A.) WELLINGTON, August 8. Regulations providing for the setting T.p of a Soldier Teachers’ Grading Adjustment Board to deal specifically Ivith the grading of soldier teachers, were gazetted to-night. Commenting on the regulations, the of Education (the Mon. A. H. Nordmeyer) said: ‘‘Grading is a most important matter for teachers, as it determines their place on the grading list for appointment to higher positions in the service. During the hearing of appeals by the ordinary teachers’ grading appeal board in 1945, appeals were received from teachers who were former servicemen, who claimed that their grading as teachers had been adversely affected by service with the forces. In some cases the board felt some adjustment should be made, but it did not have power tp make full adjustment within 'the provisions of the ordinary regulations.

“A committee representing the department and the New Zealand Educational Institute considered the matter and recommended that a special board be set up with power to go beyond the present regulations where it is shown that there has been hardship As of service in the forces. “An example of such hardship is that teachers not in the forces obtained war appointments, and thus gained more rapid progress in grading, while teachers in the forces could not, of course, obtain such an advantage.

“In making provision for this special board the Government desires it to hear the applications of soldierteachers both in the primary and postprimary services. The hoard will consist of three members—-an independent chairman appointed by the Minister of Education, a representative of the Education Department, and a representative of the teachers. Applications will not be treated as ordinary appeals, but the board will deal sympathetically with cases. The “Government desires that any hardship with respect to grading that any teacher may have suffered through military service should be removed. This special provision is part of the undertaking given to teachers by the Minister of Education that they would be placed as close to the stage in their career, including the place on the grading list, they would have reached if military service had not intervened.