TEACHERS' TENURE.

Auckland Star, Volume LII, Issue 159, 6 July 1921, Page 6

TEACHERS' TENURE.

TOO FREQUENT SKTFTS.

RESTRICTIONS AT PRESENT ILLEGAL.

The Board of Education had before it to-day the following proposed restrictive regulation: "That no application shall be considered for any advertised position from any teacher who has served than two years in his or her present position." The Board recently wrote to the Director of Education at Wellington asking whether such a regulation would be ultra vires. In this letter the Board pointed out the ease of a teacher who applied for the position of head teacher of the Tautari School, in grade 3a, and was the highest of the applicant?. The Board, 'however, in conformity with it-, resolution of April 19, declined to appoint this applicant, in view of the fact that he had been twice removed during a few months. Had the appointment; been made in June the Board, in thi) absence of restrictive regulations, must have appointed him to tlie position. Such a thing happening in the absence of restrictive legislation, the Board maintained, would result in a condition a;jproachintj chaos in the matter of tin* appointment of teacher?. would be subject to frequent rhansrc*, an.l every change in grade of a teacher would make him aspire to a better and different position. 'The case cited is lint an extreme one," said the letter. "Wlici teachers generally realise tllilt no restrictive regulations are in force they will make application for any vacant position. Thus it may happen, as in tEe case above, that frequently teachers will apply for a second position before taking up the first to which they were appointed."

In reply to this communication the Board received a letter from the Director saying that an amendment of the Act would be necessary. In the opinion of the Crown Law Officer the proposed regulation would be ultra vires. An amendment to the Act was being considered, and the Board would be consulted as to the form it would take. Meantime, it would be necessary to avoid the imposition of restrictions not contained in the Act.

It was stated that the teachers generally were favourable to th" proposed regulation, provided that it applied not only to the Auckland but to Other educational districts.

Further consideration of the matter was deferred until next meeting, in order that it might be brought before the Teachers' Institute for discussion.