SCALE FOR PAYMENT OF HEAD TEACHERS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXI, Issue 57, 8 March 1900, Page 3

SCALE FOR PAYMENT OF HEAD TEACHERS.

DR. McAETHUE'S PEOPOSAL LOST OX THE CASTING VOTE OF THE

CHAIRMAN.

Yesterday afternoon consideration of Dr. McArtliur's scale for payment of head tea.chers, farther disciission of which was adjourned from the previous meeting, came up. The Executive Committee of the N.Z. Educational Institute wrote asking- the Board to defer consideration of Dr. McArthur's salary scheme in view of the fact that the Education Department had given a distinct pledge to the Institute that a colonial scale of salaries would be drawn up during- the forthcoming- session. The secretary of the Otago Education Board wrote asking- the Board to co-operate with them in the restoration of the capitation grant to the old rate of £4 per head. Dr. McArthur's scheme submitted to the Board yesterday is as follows: MALE HEAD TEACH Elus. Average Present Proposes: Schools. attendance, scale. scale. Class i.... Over 500 .. £M 5.. £324 ami £3 for and £6 for every ad- every additional 25 ditional 2"> over 500. over 500 up to 700. Class 11. 201-500.. £240 to £345.. £228 to £324 (as per scale). (£S for every additional 25 over 200). Class 111. 100-200..£200 to £210..£200 to £228 (£9 for every additional 25 over 100). No salary to be less than £200. Class IV. (a).... 50 to 99 £190 £190 (b) CO to 79 £175 £17u (c).... 50 to 59 £160 £160 Class V. (a).... 40 to 49 £150 £li>o (b)....30 to 39 £13:") £335 (C).... 20 to 29 £120 £120 (d).... 20 to 24 £110 £1H (e)....15 to 19 £S0 £108 FEMALE HEAD TEACIIEIiS. Average Present Proposed attendance. scale. scale. 00 to 79 £140 £110 50 to 59 £128 £12S 40 to 49 £120 £120 SO to 3.1 £103 £10S 20 to 29 £100 £100 15 to 19 £70.. i £7S Schools under 15 average attendance to be treated as "aided schools." If the attendance' at a school should fall below an average of 13, no reduction of salary to be made, except by resolution of the Board. This scale to be applied to certificated head teachers only. Ml- K. Hobbs, the chairman, said that since the last meeting- ho had drawn up three amendments to Dr. McArthur's scheme for consideration by the Board, as follows: — (1) That before committing- itself to the adoption of a scale of salaries, which would have the effect of reducing- the salaries of more than 100 hend teachers, the Board urge upon Government the importance of taking- such action as will bring- about a more equitable adjustment of the salaries of teachers throughout the colony. (2) That if the capitation grant were restored to its former rate of four pounds (£4), the Board would be placed in a position to deal more liberally with the payment of its teachers, and funds would be available to grant an increase of salary to teachers of the smaller schools, without reducing- other salaries below the existing- scale. (3) That a strong- representation be made to the Government, asking thut the authority of Parliament be obtained at its next session for restoring- the capitation grant to its former rate of four pounds (£4) per head. Mr Bag-nail said he did not think what the chairman had submitted was an amendment on. McArthur's motion. Dr. McArthur said he agreed with everything- in the amendment. Mr Bagnall thought Dr. McArthur was entitled to the thanks of the Board for the trouble he had taken in this matter. It was their duty to regulate and equalise the salaries of the teachers in this district and let the Government adopt a colonial scheme if they thought proper. He was against an increase in the capitation grant. Teachers would rather take £40 in town than £70 in the country, thus showing- they were not a necessitous class. Dr. McArthur's scheme should be carried and be brought into operation ut once. He was prepared to vote against the chairman's amendment.

Dr. McArthur said a colonial scale' of salaries had already been drawn out by Mr Habens. A colonial scheme meant the teachers of the big schools would have their salaries increased at the expense of the country and small schools. The Educational Institute was mostly composed of head teachers, and of course they favoured the colonial scheme. Goodness help the country school teachers when they got a colonial scale.. Dr. McArthur compared the salaries for headmasters on the last proposed colonial scale with the salaries now paid by the Wellington, North Canterbury, and Otago Boards. For a school like Wellesley-street the colonial scale gave £404, while the average for the three Southern Boards was £37.0; Devonport (or similar school), colonial, £343, average, £318; Northcote, colonial, £234, .average £242; Hikurangi, colonial, £105, average, £205; Papakurn, colonial, £165, average, £199; Turua, colonial, £140, average, £181; VVaiuku, colonial, £140, average, £153; Opua, colonial, £130, average, £110; Harris, colonial, £110, average, £93; Taupo, colonial, £00, average, £73. Dr. McArthur said he would vote strongly against the amendment. Mr Blades said he would have to vote against the amendment. lie would not urge the Government to bring in a colonial scheme. The Board was organised to administer. Mr J. B. Eeed said he was entirely in sympathy with Di\ McArthur's motion. Some teachers were beingpaid out of all proportion to • other teachers. Dr. McArthur's motion meant that £30 a year would be swept away from the big salaries. The scale he thought should be brought in hy degrees, and no injustice done to old servants of the Board. He moved an amendment in this direction, viz., "That the scale shall not apply in the direction of reducing- existing salaries as at the Ist January, 1900."

Mr Muir said that from what he read in the newspapers he had come to the conclusion that the whole business of the Educational Institute was taken up with trying- to advance their financial position. Very few head teachers had worked themselves up with their ability, but only by plotting1 and scherningwith school committees. He thought the request of the Otago Board for an increased capi-

tation grant might well be set aside. Mr Luke combatted the statements made by Mr Muir as to how head teachers received their appointments. He thought it would be cruel to teachers to reduce the salaries of old servants, as proposed in Dr. McArthur's scheme, lie pointed oui that in the Otahnhu and East Tamaki schools Dr. McArthur's proposals would be an injtistice to the head teacher. He was in favour of a national system of payment for teachers. If a man had a Dl certificate he should be worth as much in Otago as in Auckland. He favoured the amendment. To take away the salaries of men who had spent 30 and 40 years in the service of the Board was unfair. Mr Farrell said that for years the teachers! of smaller schools had been subjected to a lot of hardships. He favoured Dr. McArthur's scheme. Mr Bag-nail .spoke against the proposal to ask for an increase of the capitation grant. Mr Hobbs said members sat at the table and talked nboiu half-starved teachers with families, and when he proposed to ask for an increased capitation grant to help these teachers members raised an objection. The amendments of Mr Hobbs were put, the first and third being- lost on division, while the second was only carried on the chairman's casting vote. The opposition members -pointed out that the carrying- of the third clause of the amendment nullified the second, and contended the wording was an expression of opinion only, and that Mr Hobbs, according to usage, had no right to give his easting vote the way he did. Dr. McArthur fully explained his scheme, and moved the adoption, of his scale. Mr Blades opposed Dr. McArthur's scheme, and said he had not only had it amended at the meeting, but he had treated the question of teachers' houses in a light and airy fashion. Mr Bagnall contended the question of teachers' houses did not affect the scheme. The Chairman: Teachers' houses were left out of the scheme altogether. It has no basis. Mr Bagnall retorted that if he was allowed he would soon settle the question of the houses. He would sell all the teachers' houses in town where anomalies existed. Dr. McArthur's scheme was then put to the vote, four members voting in favour and four against. The Chairman gave his casting vote against. Dr. McArthur intimated that he would place his scheme before the new Board.