AUCKLAND EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTE

Auckland Star, Volume XXVIII, Issue 43, 22 February 1897, Page 3

AUCKLAND EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTE

CLASSIFICATION OF TEACHERS.

THE SCHOLARSHIP EXAMINA

TIONS,

A largely-attended meeting of tbe Auckland branch of the New Zealand Educational Institute was held ab the Wellesleystreet Public School on Saturday, Mr James Armstrong in the chair. After separate discussion tho following resolutions were passed :—l. "That this branch regrets to observe thab the Board has pledged itself to adopt a scheme for promotion by which schools with an average of more than 60C will in future be given only to teachers holding aC or higher certificate. 2. Thab this branch begs to express the earnest hope that the Board will see fib to reconsider the advisability of this scheme on the following grounds:—(a) The practice of the Board and bhe statements made by its officers in bhe pasb have led teachers to understand fehab a D certificate w«s a sufficient qualification for the h-admaaterahip of any school under the Board. Any sudden departure from this practice, therefore, would really amount to a breach of faith with the teacher*, (b) The Education Act and the regulations made thereunder do not contemplate such a restriction as that which ia proposed. (c) The proposed regulation would exclude from the large Bchools a greab number of the most experienced and successful teachers in the.Boaru'a employment. (rZ) The regulation would also crea a the anomaly of a teacher being eligible lur appointment as an inspector while at the same time he would be ineligible for the headm»3tership of the largesb schools. Tha regulation seems to affirm bhe necessity of a teacher possessing a University degree as a qualification for the lieadmasbership of a large school whilst at the same time the education authorities in England are appointing inspectors without University diplomas but who have had a successful career as masters of large elementary schools; (c) The regulations would do a grave injustice to teachers in the country districts, who would be unable, from fcbis position, to obtain the assistance required to pass the University examinations. On the motion of Mr Herriob seconded by Mr Purdie it was decided that bhe Board of Education be informed when the resolutions passed wero forwarded that a Committee consisting of Messrs J. Armstrong, B. Bailey and R. D. Steward bad been appointed and should tha Board be desirous it would be glad to waib on bhe Beard to discuss the matter.

A further resolution was pasted as follows .-—That in the opinion of the members of the Institute in any scheme of classification bho figure attached to She letter of tho teacher's certifiate should be deemed of primary importance.

With regard to the scholarship examination it was apreed to forward the following resolutions for the consideration of fcbe Board of Education :—l. That the Institute regrets that many of the scholarship questions were of such a nature as to be beyond the comprehension of children 14 years ; aud further, that the Board be respectfully requested to instruct); the examiners in bho future bo put their questions in a simple and lucid form, 2. Thab the Institute is of opinion that Ransomo's history is a very unsuitable book for children under 14 year? of age ; also, that Berner's La we of Hoalth does nob cover th. work prescribed for the examination. 3. Thab the Institute ia of opinion thab a textbook should be prescribed in agricultural chemistry and in physics. 4. That while bhe Institute would not attempt any inter' ference with she prerogative of the Chief Inspector, thab the end would be best served by entrusting tho scholarship examination to all the Inspectors, and that the Inspector setting any given paper should examine the answers thereto.