GRADING OF TEACHERS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLII, Issue 230, 27 September 1911, Page 4

GRADING OF TEACHERS.

THE AUCKLAND SYSTEM

AN ALTERATION SUGGESTED,

NEGATIVED BY THE BOARD.

Considerable discussion was , at the meeting of the Auckland to j tion Board this morning bv a vL -J*' submitted by Mr. J. D. Helved h J 0 " for its objective an alteration or"'?? system of grading teachers adomli \ the Board. Mr. Mclvenzio moved 1 y the resolution passed by the Bo's J 1 August 31st, 1010, by which'the i? 0a of one teacher only is submitted ' school committee for appointment V amended, so that any applicant's 4', with m a range" of five points below t?" 1 highest applicant may at the disown of the Board be included in such coti!? tation. • .= ;," BUl ' The mover complained that under' ti grading system now in force'-too J prominence was given to academi- ? tainments of the teachers and too litti to the phase of a teacher's disnositil! that enabled him to be a social succe? in the district to which he was sejl If a "'bear" was appointed, to 'a 'positiot ■because of his academic qualifications it was doing an injustice to the children and an. injury to the district.. W Board was bound by a hard and f as | rule, which was objectionable. In „i a k. ing an appointment the 'Board was at solutely bound hand and foot to tl« highest graded applicant, and there was no option, no matter how . fully n 5 Board realised that the teacher" wouH not be a success. The inspectors ha' been given a free hand, and he haj no hesitation in declaring that the in. spectorial staff had shown a want o! capacity in dealing with the - position. Mr. Harris: Want of tact. • '

Mr. McKenzie said the 'position set up under the system -was that a teachet was Icaipable of |<lajking njfharge ,' 0 f a country school with several" classes, but yet was regarded as inefficient to teach a class in a town school. Country children required as much teaching, super, vision, and discipline as in the city and some provision should he made iu ft, scheme to enable teachers in the conn' try to get appointments in the to\m schools, and not to be debarred as at present.

. Mr. Harris, who seconded the motion thought the Board realised the inequalities existing, but suggested that tin faults of the system'had ffe way it had been started. In course ei time he believed the mistakes would bt rectified.

Mr. Edgecumbe argued that the inspectators were the most competeht ; a)il qualified to advise on the qualifications of teachers. All common sense commit tees would agree that neither committees nor the Board were able to judge tho suitability of teachers for different positions. The grading system -was the best way of enabling the Board to make the most satisfactory use of the stall, and to arrive, at the wisest results, Under any scheme they would have anomalies, and, perha-ps, unintentional injustice' would be inflicted, hut j the system adopted was the fairest and most deliberate that could possibly bo eyolved. . . r,.-. v y . ' » Mr Murray admitted that were -M-iiaknosses in the system, that' it had given general jaiffisffctioa and the teachers bad approved-of• the fundamental principles of the schema It was a new thing and the Board haa wisely given the inspectors a free hand. Academic attainments had not been given undue prominence over other qualifications. The inspectors were less prejudiced parties than school committees, and they certainly were more, intimately acquainted with 'the peculiarities of teachers and the local conditions to lie met with. As a body the inspectors ha'd'tried to do their level best in the interests of ■ education in - the - district,- -and lad induced teachers to'carry on their wk with greater zeal and enthusiasm.. "The grading system," said Mr Murray, "has j been more satisfactory "to -, tho teachers, and made- them more contented and more useful . servants of . the. Board than anything that has happened; and if anything,is done to hinder the full development of tho system it will send in amongst the teachers a feeling of unrest that will do a great deal of harm." Mr. -Banks considered that' a wisa course to -pursue would- be to take a 'ballot of teachers on .the question of whai system was preferred. ~ /<■, Mr Barriball declared that..the appointments under the grading system had been more satisfactory than'unde the former arrangement. The chairman, Mr Garland, -pointed out the difficulties to be faced, in - submitting more .than one name to a committee, because fifty or sixty teachers were w the same mark. When the system J™ been developed he believed the Bow' would have the finest grading system in the Dominion, and the scheme was being adopted throughout the DonnnMiiMr Harris: They work it out .<*' ently. ... ; ■ . Mr Garland:;" And with less satis®* The cliairman went on to say that th® proposed alteration would mean rev'H Lug to the barbarous system of P atlo!l .' Age. Nine representative teachers M waited on him and urged' that widjWf ent system should not be interfered m • The speaker believed that the hulK o the teachers, at least 90 per cent-, v>p satisfied to give the scheme a fair tr i and contended that the suggested a® ' ment would 'be a stunning blow to grading system. Mr Mulgan, chief inspector, said w inspectors were responsible for the s - tern, and were prepared to. .... responsibility. The grading had J? satisfaction, and it was inadyisaDS do anything to alienate confidence •create discontent. \ l ■ Mr McKenzie declared" that it' his desire to break down the # » system, but to make it a little more tic, so that in specific cases the # may have the option to deviate a hard and fast rule. ~ - The motion was negatived; Messßi Kenzie and Harris voting for it, an 1 (j . chairman and Messrs Murray, Barriww Banks, Edgecumbe and Harris aga'P l '