GRADING OF TEACHERS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIII, Issue 306, 23 December 1912, Page 6

GRADING OF TEACHERS.

■ DISCUSSED BY INSTTTDTE. SCHEME TO BE SUBMITTED -TO' BOARD. A meefcinxj of members ot ac Atict. land District of the New JZealajjd- 'Bio. catianal Institute was held on Sa±nxS(T at the Training College, nt which a smber of resohrtione were passed affeetinz tie grading question, and these WaXl* sent on to the Education Board. .Jfr J. "W. McNaugnton presided, and. thtw was a. large attendance of teachers. -V Prior to the consideration of the report (already published) being moved. Mr H. G. Cousins moved, and had' c*> ried, a preliminary addition reading:, gy That the present system of" rmtii» teachere and of ■making a-ppointifiisSS strictly in accordance with candiditttf merits, as indicated in the gradihjrlifc has in no anrall degree raised the-ffli; nity of the profession .by former iniquitous system under- whica wire-palling and canvassing essential when promotion was sought(2) in spite of some defects, both hrfti grading scheme and in its adniiniitration, the appointments made since ihi inception have, on the whole, been. d»tinctly according to merit; (3) th«fcil. though the present system, likeaiTotaW reforms, has drawn much shanp criticism, this has been directed againat cats or two weak spots in the scheme and against errors in its adininistraiabn. Bs? Ideving- ifcna,t ate fundamental priaanfaare sound, and that its defects- may grv dually be eliminated, the Aucklasjd D» trict Educational Institute offers the- fnilowing suggestions for its amendments Clause one of the report, "dafc/tSjmaximum marks be 200," was-c*nikd. witbout discussion. .. ■*'>' QUESTION" OF SEX. . ~C.; Clause 3, That men and woaen bs graded on separate list?," was next considered, and met' with a deal of oppori. tipn. A minority report, signed', by tie three lady members of the committee, protesting against the proposal, wjEsnb- * mitted to the meeting. An ammii'ttmfafj "That the men and women be graded'on one list," was moved. Various speakers supporting -the amendment considered that if women were qualified to become teachers, they, should certainly be placed on the same level and grading as men. Arguing from the point of view of the children, it was contended it -would, be an injustice to them if -a, man! wis; {diced in charge of a school simply became- he -was a man, though a woman possessing superior attainments and! qualificationi for the position was available.' It ifi» not feared that women would affect salaries, inasmuch, as experience showed . that when a sufficient salary was offeiri to men, the female competition had.no appreciable effect. ' ";-f' Speakers opposing- the amendment claimed that those, supporting; it. were doing so on account of not having actrre female competition and from purely the academic standpoint. Even from thu point of view the two sexe3 could best be served by separate gradings. ■ 'z&' ■ The amendment was carried on. the voices by a substantial majority. GRADING SCHEME. :<;' The recommendation, That?;.. imi teachers be graded as. four lists of school grades—A, 10, 9, 8; B, 7,6, 5"; G£0 "; D 3, or lower," was carried,-.,- "- -• i. jj ': The clause, "TEat- there be aTgrigTiij for the assistants," was amende&.Tjjr ti£ addition, of grading according to salariiS, the grades being fixed aa follpwsr-r'Aj £180 -and upwards; B, £135- to." £180; and C, £90 to £135. , V-;'•':;' { The grade of "infant mistresses" wil altered to read "infant teachers.-''; ■■■;■_'&■■■ The clause "assistants in district higk schools" was - added to by, "Be grade! i assistants in secondary department*.ot district high schools." "--• - Clause 2, "That marks be'allotM under various headings," was n»Dnb;. discussed. Section A, "scholastic: life tainments 30," was adopted. Sectioa % "service 25," was with, the addition that the marks be adjusted., qp*£ terly. Section C, "discipline amL|i*sonality 50"; D, "teaching efficiency: «T; and E, "organisation 5," were, amilp! mated to count as for efficiency-ME?.--;-MISCELXANEOUS MATTERS - ? Clause a, "That teachers- br gMBi annually," was altered to- ready "P*;. only those teachers who desire pfl*£': tion be graded annually, and that» person be graded unless he or die ■•■f*", to be placed on the- list." ■ -t^% EJ The next clause, "That teaifom±to t notified of their position on the gadingp" . was altered to read, "That teachM^d*. siring promotion be notified," etc." ,■: ~J/~ Clause 7, "That the number- of MBM* on the list be notified," was the next clause, "That the listb* lished," -was deleted. Clause 9, reading, "That any pntoi& : received from teachers in respect.of taBT grading should be lodged within: months after the receipt of their grading, - and should be considered by an «pp*s committee set up by the Board! aid; to; consist of (a) a representative of'tbe Board, (b) a representative of. tarn? spectorate, (c) a representative of tt* District Institute," was warmly ■ di-\ cussed. An amendment, to strike: oot everything after and including faa *?:i peal committee," and insert after the %, i. "the board of inspectors," was carried j Consideration of the nhal that. concerning town appointments, w**-- deferred till the Easter meeting of theidi* I trict. * --i :- A motion, "That the report' •• amended be adopted," was carried. The conference lasted over five hoonv