THE AUCKLAND TEACHER.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXI, Issue 62, 14 March 1900, Page 2

THE AUCKLAND TEACHER.

(To the Editor.) Sir,—One or two members of the Board of Education, at its last meeting, when discussing Dr. McArthur's salary scheme, made a few statements that contained nasty reflections, but no truth, and, in justice to those of whom these disparaging remarks were made, I feel it my duty to emphatically contradict them. Dr. McArthur, in advocating his own scheme, stated (if I may believe the Press report) that the Educational Institute was composed mostly of head-teachers, and they favoured a colonial scale, as it meant that they would have their salaries increased at the expense of the country and small schools. In the first place, Sir, the Educational Institute is not composed mostty of headmasters. In case the Doctor should feel disposed to make the same remark again I have taken the trouble to obtain the following information from the official book: "Of the number of members of the Auckland Branch of the New Zealand Educational Institute about 8 per cent, "represents the headmasters of the city and suburban schools, 25 per cent...the assistants in the same schools,-and the. remainder, about 67 per cent., represents the number of country teachers." These figures, Sir, prove that not only are the head-teachers in a very small minority but that there are more than twice as many country teachers members of the Auckland Branch than even the bead-teachers and assistants of the large schools. With regard to the second statement of Dr. McArthur, that the Institute favours a colonial scheme because .the head-teachers, who mostly compose the Institute (W would have their salaries increased at the expense of the country and small schools, if the Doctor knew as much as he ought to he would not be S of such misleading statements. What authority he has for asserting that the colonial scheme, proposed bj the late im*o^ enel al V- W- J-Habeas* is to be the scheme submitted at the next session of Parliament no one knows but himself. Mr Habens' colonial scheme was brought forward at the Educational Conference which took place at Wellington last ye^r-a Conference consisting of represents rives of Boards, inspectors SitZl sio7Tef th^ * + ° prWoke <X* i A c Doctor adepts this scale as the one to be adopted and accuses the members of the Inst_t£« of selfishness in .advocating-£mr ticular scheme. If the Doctox S turn to a Press report (September 29 of last year) of a meetino- 0 f th« Auckland Branch, he will discover the exact attitude of the Institute con- , cermng Mr Habens' colonial scale of salaries. At that meeting the Pre_i- ,

dent (Mr T. U. W rells) submitted the following resolution:— "That the Auckland Branch of the New Zealand Educational Institute respectfully commends to the favourable notice of the Minister for Education the colonial scheme of salaries, as outlined by the late Rev. W. J. Habens." '__ In speaking to his motion Mr Wells said ("Herald," September 29, 1899) : that he did not think Mr Habens' scheme very satisfactory, and he would j agree to any other satisfactory scheme that might be suggested to the Minister. His object in moving the^resolu. tion was not to set- class against class jbut to improve the position of teach! [ ers as a whole. Mr Wells' motion met with strong opposition, not that the principle of a colonial scale was disapproved of, but the scale, as pro- . posed by Mr Habens, was condemned as unsatisfactory. Members unable to be present wrote expressing themselves in favour of the principle of a colonial scale, ' but strongly opposed that outlined by Mr Habens. Mr W 7ells, in the face.of such a strong opposition, withdrew his motion, and the following resolution was unanimously adopted:~ "That it be a recommendation to the Executive of the New Zealand Educational Institute to formulate a practical colonial scheme for payment of teachers, and to submit such scheme to the Minister for Education, with,a view to its adoption." "■;■■' Yet, in the face of this, the Doctor —for reasons best known to himself— still accuses the Institute of clamouring for Mr Habens' colonial scale, in. asmuch as his remarks imply that- the only colonial scale that could be adopt., ed is that drawn up by the late Inspector-General. The statement made by Mr Muir-i----"That very few head-masters had worked themselves into their present positions by ability and service, but only by plotting and scheming with" School Committees"—ought not to go unchallenged, but, as it is not in my province to deal with it, I leave it in the hands of the head-teachers themselves. V Thanking you in anticipation, lam": etc., S. H. FERGUSON, ' Secretary Auckland Branch : N.Z. Educational Institute. -